Beneficial organisms
Generalities
A auxiliary in agriculture, in the broad sense, is a living organism that provides ecosystem services facilitating agricultural production. It replaces all or part of the work and inputs provided by the farmer.
This definition includes microorganisms and invertebrates antagonistic to pests as well as vertebrates such as certain birds, mammals, and amphibians that feed on pests or weed seeds. It also includes insects pollinators that enable the fertilization of cultivated plants.
In a narrower sense, auxiliaries refer to natural enemies, organisms that, by their lifestyle, development, and/or feeding, regulate populations of crop pests. Three types of natural enemies are distinguished:
- predators: feeding at the expense of other animals (prey)
- parasitoids: Hymenoptera (wasps) or Diptera (flies) whose larvae develop at the expense of an individual, causing its death
- parasitic microorganisms: nematodes, bacteria, fungi, or viruses whose development causes the death of pests.
They are naturally found in the soil as well as within semi-natural habitats. These auxiliaries of crops can be reared and subsequently released by importation and/or augmentation. They also play a very important role in biological control techniques by conservation, where the presence of their habitats is promoted by farmers.
Natural enemies are true allies for farmers in their pest control strategies: this is why, in agroecological approaches, they promote the development of environments capable of maintaining a natural balance between pests and auxiliaries. This involves adapted management of soil and agrobiodiversity.
(Article taken from the Agroecological Dictionary: https://dicoagroecologie.fr/encyclopedie/auxiliaires-des-cultures/)
