Crop pests and predators exhibit inconsistent responses to surrounding landscape composition
Authors: Karp Daniel S. , Chaplin-Kramer Rebecca , Meehan Timothy D. , Martin Emily A. , DeClerck Fabrice , Grab Heather , Gratton Claudio , Hunt Lauren , Larsen Ashley E. , Martínez-Salinas Alejandra , O’Rourke Megan E. , Rusch Adrien , Poveda Katja , Jonsson Mattias , Rosenheim Jay A. , Schellhorn Nancy A. , Tscharntke Teja , Wratten Stephen D. , Zhang Wei , Iverson Aaron L. , Adler Lynn S. , Albrecht Matthias , Alignier Audrey , Angelella Gina M. , Zubair Anjum Muhammad , Avelino Jacques , Batáry Péter , Baveco Johannes M. , Bianchi Felix J. J. A. , Birkhofer Klaus , Bohnenblust Eric W. , Bommarco Riccardo , Brewer Michael J. , Caballero-López Berta , Carrière Yves , Carvalheiro Luísa G. , Cayuela Luis , Centrella Mary , Ćetković Aleksandar , Henri Dominic Charles , Chabert Ariane , Costamagna Alejandro C. , De la Mora Aldo , de Kraker Joop , Desneux Nicolas , Diehl Eva , Diekötter Tim , Dormann Carsten F. , Eckberg James O. , Entling Martin H. , Fiedler Daniela , Franck Pierre , Frank van Veen F. J. , Frank Thomas , Gagic Vesna , Garratt Michael P. D. , Getachew Awraris , Gonthier David J. , Goodell Peter B. , Graziosi Ignazio , Groves Russell L. , Gurr Geoff M. , Hajian-Forooshani Zachary , Heimpel George E. , Herrmann John D. , Huseth Anders S. , Inclán Diego J. , Ingrao Adam J. , Iv Phirun , Jacot Katja , Johnson Gregg A. , Jones Laura , Kaiser Marina , Kaser Joe M. , Keasar Tamar , Kim Tania N. , Kishinevsky Miriam , Landis Douglas A. , Lavandero Blas , Lavigne Claire , Le Ralec Anne , Lemessa Debissa , Letourneau Deborah K. , Liere Heidi , Lu Yanhui , Lubin Yael , Luttermoser Tim , Maas Bea , Mace Kevi , Madeira Filipe , Mader Viktoria , Cortesero Anne Marie , Marini Lorenzo , Martinez Eliana , Martinson Holly M. , Menozzi Philippe , Mitchell Matthew G. E. , Miyashita Tadashi , Molina Gonzalo A. R. , Molina-Montenegro Marco A. , O’Neal Matthew E. , Opatovsky Itai , Ortiz-Martinez Sebaastian , Nash Michael , Östman Örjan , Ouin Annie , Pak Damie , Paredes Daniel , Parsa Soroush , Parry Hazel , Perez-Alvarez Ricardo , Perović David J. , Peterson Julie A. , Petit Sandrine , Philpott Stacy M. , Plantegenest Manuel , Plećaš Milan , Pluess Therese , Pons Xavier , Potts Simon G. , Pywell Richard F. , Ragsdale David W. , Rand Tatyana A. , Raymond Lucie , Ricci Benoît , Sargent Chris , Sarthou Jean-Pierre , Saulais Julia , Schäckermann Jessica , Schmidt Nick P. , Schneider Gudrun , Schüepp Christof , Sivakoff Frances S. , Smith Henrik G. , Stack Whitney Kaitlin , Stutz Sonja , Szendrei Zsofia , Takada Mayura B. , Taki Hisatomo , Tamburini Giovanni , Thomson Linda J. , Tricault Yann , Tsafack Noelline , Tschumi Matthias , Valantin-Morison Muriel , Van Trinh Mai , van der Werf Wopke , Vierling Kerri T. , Werling Ben P. , Wickens Jennifer B. , Wickens Victoria J. , Woodcock Ben A. , Wyckhuys Kris , Xiao Haijun , Yasuda Mika , Yoshioka Akira , Zou Yi 
Published: August 2018

Significance

Decades of research have fostered the now-prevalent assumption that noncrop habitat facilitates better pest suppression by providing shelter and food resources to the predators and parasitoids of crop pests. Based on our analysis of the largest pest-control database of its kind, noncrop habitat surrounding farm fields does affect multiple dimensions of pest control, but the actual responses of pests and enemies are highly variable across geographies and cropping systems. Because noncrop habitat often does not enhance biological control, more information about local farming contexts is needed before habitat conservation can be recommended as a viable pest-suppression strategy. Consequently, when pest control does not benefit from noncrop vegetation, farms will need to be carefully comanaged for competing conservation and production objectives.