The Potential of Common Beneficial Insects and Strategies for Maintaining Them in Bean Fields of Sub Saharan Africa
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Date
2016-02-10
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Scientific Research Publishing
Abstract
Beneficial insects provide natural ecosystem services such as biological control of pests, soil for mation, nutrient cycling and pollination of plants. Beneficial insects include pollinators important
in the essential pollination process of all plants, and natural enemies of pests such as parasitoids
and predators which are important in the suppression of pest damage to crops. Knowledge on
management techniques to attract beneficial insects in the agricultural fields is a way forward to
enhance agro ecosystems for increased crop production. Therefore, proper understanding and
identification of natural enemies, as well as pollinators in agricultural fields, is essential in pro moting biological control and pollination activity. Natural enemies and pollinators, within legume
fields, play a key role in ensuring sustainable production, especially in smallholder farms. There is
a limited understanding of beneficial insects and the ecosystem services they offer to the agricul tural production process in much of sub-Saharan Africa. This paper reviewed and provided exist ing knowledge on beneficial insects in bean fields. This will give the basis for research on benefi cial insects in bean fields and practices that encourage their populations
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 15: Life on Land.
Keywords
Ecosystem Services, Biological Control, Natural Enemies, Pollinators, Pest Management