DOI: 10.5061/dryad.98sf7m0x3
title: Data from: Enhancing natural enemies in sugar beet fields: The impact of flower strip types and landscape elements

description: Flower strips (FS) enhance predators that can help regulate aphids. In
 sugar beet crops, early-season aphid populations can spread viruses, so
 timely FS resources are key to attract aphid predators to reduce virus
 transmission. This study aims to identify the optimal FS type(s) for
 supporting aphid antagonists in early spring, track their abundances in
 the different FS types, and analyze the landscape factors influencing
 antagonist presence. We selected three different seed mixtures, each sown
 on 10 sugar beet fields managed without insecticides. FS types were
 compared to sugar beet strips in fields without insecticides and
 conventionally managed fields, both served as controls. We assessed the
 strips by counting flowers and collecting insects with a sweep net in
 mid-April, early May, and early June. Autumn-sown annual and second-year
 perennial FS produced greater and earlier flower volumes than other
 treatments. Over time, the flower compositions of these two FS types also
 became increasingly distinct from each other. Aphid antagonists were more
 abundant in these FS types compared to spring-sown annual FS and controls.
 Hoverfly communities differed between autumn-sown and perennial FS.
 Braconidae were positively linked to forest cover within 500 m,
 while hoverflies showed a negative association with forest at the
 2000 m scale. Overall, autumn-sown annual and perennial FS are
 better suited for conservation biocontrol of aphids in sugar beet systems
 than spring-sown annual FS. Hoverfly composition differences may lead to
 variation in aphid suppression. From a landscape perspective, forested
 areas near fields within otherwise open landscapes are important in
 supporting beneficial insects.
description: # Data from: Enhancing natural enemies in sugar beet fields: The impact of
 flower strip types and landscape elements **Column description for
 flower_measurments_20240827.csv** * name_scientific Indicates the
 scientific plant name - nema_german indicates the German plant name *
 diameter_in_mm indicates the diameter of a spherical flower unit
 (exception in the Asteraceae family, the whole capitulum, including
 petals, was measured) - height_in_mm indicates the height of a spherical
 flower unit (exception in the Asteraceae family, the whole capitulum,
 including petals, was measured) * length_in_mm indicates the length of a
 tubular flower unit (exception in the Asteraceae family, the whole
 capitulum, including petals, was measured) - width_in_mm indicates the
 width of a tubular flower unit (exception in the Asteraceae family, the
 whole capitulum, including petals, was measured - Comments that were made
 are noted there and missing data represented as NA. **Column description
 for flower_volumes_per_4_m2_in_mm3_20240827.csv** * Field_ID indicates
 each field. - This indicates the date at which the sampling took place. *
 sampling_nr indicates the sampling number. - Observer indicates the
 persons by their initials who were taking the samples. * Treatment
 Indicates the treatments (AFS = autumn-sown annual FS, PFS = perennial FS,
 SFS = spring-sown annual FS, CIP = control IP, CON = control conventional
 - Species richness indicates the number of flowering species found. *
 Column H to BL: Different plant species and their corresponding flower
 volume per 4 m2 in mm3. **Column description for metadata_2025_02_18.csv**
 * Field indicates the ID of the field - Treatment Indicates the treatments
 (AFS = autumn-sown annual FS, PFS = perennial FS, SFS = spring-sown annual
 FS, CIP = control IP, CON = control conventional * varies indicates the
 sugar beet variety that was sown on the field. - Area_FS_a The area of the
 flower strip on the sugar beet field in ares (10m2) * Saat_, ZR the date
 when the sugar beets were sown - area_field_a The area of the sugar beet
 field in ares (10m2) * Gemeinde: The municipality the field was located. -
 Column I-K: The number of Braconidae found in the FS in the corresponding
 sampling time point.t * Column L-N: The number of parasitic wasps (incl.
 Braconidae) found in the FS in the corresponding sampling time point.t -
 Column O-Q: The number of hoverflies (aphidophagous and non-aphidophagous
 species) found in the FS in the corresponding sampling time point * Column
 R-BJ All found hoverfly species are listed for each sampling time point.
 The numbers indicate the found individuals in the FS and the corresponding
 time point. - Column BK-BM: The number of aphidophagous hoverflies found
 in the FS in the corresponding sampling time point * Column BN-BP: The
 number of ladybird larvae found in the FS in the corresponding sampling
 time point - Column BQ-BS:  The number of ladybird adults found in the
 Fatithe the corresponding sampling time point * Column BT-BV: The number
 of aphids found in the FS at the corresponding sampling time point -
 Column BW-BY: The number of lacewing larvae found in the FS in the
 corresponding sampling time point * Column BZ-C: B The number of lacewing
 adults found in the Fatithe n corresponding sampling time point - Column
 CC-: CG The share of flowering elements in the surrounding (different
 radii correspond to different columns) * Column CH-CL The share of forest
 in the surrounding (different radii correspond to different columns) -
 Column CM-: FZ The number of flower counts per species in the
 corresponding sampling round. If a sampling round is not present, the
 count was 0.