Predator-Prey Interactions in Agroecosystems
Summary
Predator–prey interactions within agroecosystems form the basis of natural pest regulation, influencing crop health and yield while reducing reliance on chemical inputs. Predatory insects, notably anthocorid bugs and other omnivorous species, feed upon a broad spectrum of pests such as aphids, thrips and whiteflies. The strength of these interactions depends on functional responses to prey density, the structural complexity of the crop habitat, plant physical and chemical traits, and environmental cues. Multi-species assemblages often exhibit complementarity, whereby different predators exploit distinct microhabitats or prey stages, leading to more robust pest suppression. Advances in crop breeding, light-based attractants and habitat management have deepened our understanding of these dynamics, enabling targeted enhancement of biological control services across diverse climatic regions. Recognising the cascading effects of plant resistance and predator nutrition also guides the design of integrated pest management strategies that balance crop protection with ecosystem health.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent studies have shown that targeted violet-LED illumination can recruit predatory anthocorid bugs to open-field crops, doubling predator density on foliage and halving thrip populations in pesticide-free eggplant trials. Three distinct effects were identified: immediate attraction of predators, sustained enhancement of reproduction and indirect restructuring of the plant–arthropod food web. This light-mediated approach provides a novel, non-chemical tool to boost biological control and stabilise agroecosystem services.
Research from all publishers
Research on predator complementarity revealed that combining closely related anthocorid species with differing within-plant oviposition sites can simultaneously suppress foliar and flower pests more effectively than single-species releases. Parallel work on oviposition preferences has demonstrated that predatory bugs assess plant tissue age and prey proximity to select optimal egg-laying sites, informing cover-crop and habitat design to retain beneficial insects. Additionally, life-history studies under varied temperature regimes have characterised functional responses and demographic parameters of predatory bugs, identifying thermal optima for survival, fecundity and prey consumption, thereby refining release timings and locations for maximised pest control.
Predator-Prey Interactions in Agroecosystems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in predator-prey interactions in agroecosystems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Functional response: The change in the rate of prey consumption by a predator in relation to prey density.
Omnivore: An organism that obtains nutrients from both plant and animal sources.
Integrated pest management (IPM): A holistic approach combining biological, cultural and chemical methods to manage pest populations with minimal environmental impact.
Biological control agent (BCA): A natural enemy organism introduced or augmented to suppress pest populations.
References
- Violet LED light enhances the recruitment of a thrip predator in open fields. Scientific Reports (2016).
- Complementarity between Orius predators improves control of foliar and flower pests. Pest Management Science (2025).
- Differences in within‐plant oviposition preferences and immature survival between Orius predators and the importance of spatial availability of prey. Insect Science (2024).
- Demography and predatory potential of Orius strigicollis on eggs of Plutella xylostella at two temperatures. PeerJ (2024).
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