Keep your enemies closer: enhancing biological control through individual movement rules to retain natural enemies inside the field

摘要: Abstract. Biological control of pests aims at lowering population levels pest species by favouring natural enemies, in order to reduce the use of pesticides. The movement behaviour enemies is decisive the success biological control: when low habitat quality hinders diffusion of from border, density may frequently be heterogeneous inside agricultural plots. We hypothesise that specific relationship between and movement may allow improvement means of a careful allocation qualities and around the plot. used three tested individual-based models, with different levels of complexity ranging simple cell-to-cell movements complex strategies including sinuosity path, boundary crossings, perceptual range, directional persistence. models explore how manipulation significant improvements to residence time field. suggest that existing field designs are generally inadequate retain enemies. Mechanistic explanations leading highest lowest times are draw management recommendations.