The success of natural enemies in pest control largely depends on the surrounding environment providing support for their population.
Flowering plants could provide vital alternative carbohydrate and protein resources for natural enemies, boosting their population growth and survivorship in a controlled environment.
The research in the controlled environment agriculture entomology lab aims to find flowering plants or banker plants that help establish natural enemy populations in CEA and support their longer survivorship within the system.
Adding the right banker/flowering plants will support biocontrol efforts and result in a higher impact of biocontrol on pest population control.
