We found that in nearly every case seasonal densities of major ground dwelling predators in the conservation-tilled cover crop fields were higher than densities in the conventional fields. Although no differences were observed in numbers of plant dwelling beneficial insects, slightly higher Heliothis-egg predation and parasitization rates were obtained in conservation fields. This was especially true for the conservation field with Crimson Clover as cover crop. In this field we also obtained the highest parasitization rate of captured larvae. The economical results for cotton season 1997 are not yet available but we listed the 1996 results. The tables and figures below show the results in some more details.

Economical

Entomological

Mean Number of Ground Dwelling Beneficial Insects per Pitfall Trap in 3 Regions of
Georgia before start of Cotton Season 1997.

Mean Number of Ground Dwelling Beneficial Insects per Pitfall Trap in 3 Regions of
Georgia during Cotton Season 1997.

Mean Number of Insects per Sweep Sample in Different Cover Crops in the
Early Cotton Season.

Mean Number of Plant Dwelling Beneficial Insects per Whole Plant Sample in Cotton in
Fields with Different Early Season Cover Crops.

Percent Parasitization of Lepidopteran Pests* in Coffee Co.
*Larvae and eggs of Heliothis virescens, Helicoverpa zea, Spodoptera exigua, Trichoplusia ni

Percent Predation of Heliothis Eggs in Cotton Fields with different Cover Crops.

Percent Parasitization of Heliothis Eggs in Cotton Fields with different Cover Crops.