New article by led by Dr Fabrizia Ratto in Insect Conservation and Diversity

This study from the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve in South Africa shows that planting floral resource strips inside apple orchards can significantly enhance populations of parasitoid insects—key natural enemies that help control crop pests.
In this study we established flower-rich patches within orchards surrounded by varying levels of natural fynbos vegetation. We found that these floral enhancements increased parasitoid abundance and shifted community composition inside orchards. While ruderal vegetation around orchards and nearby natural fynbos still supported richer parasitoid communities overall, the added floral resources clearly improved on-farm biodiversity. The study highlights the value of integrating semi-natural habitats into agricultural landscapes. By boosting beneficial insects, floral strips can help farmers move away from pesticide-dependent production and toward more resilient, biodiversity-friendly agroecological systems—supporting the mission of biosphere reserves to balance conservation and sustainable use.
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The full paper, “Floral resource strips enhance parasitoid abundance and diversity in apple orchards and promote agroecological advances in a South African biosphere reserve,” is now available here https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.70041