4) Ms. Ebby Soita

The use of chemical pesticides has long been effective in controlling agricultural pests; however, their overuse has led to serious environmental consequences, including ecological imbalances, biodiversity loss, and the development of pesticide resistance. These challenges highlight the need for sustainable alternatives. We investigated the potential of wildflower strips as a tool for enhancing biological control in date plantations in the Southern Arava, Israel. Specifically, we assessed how wildflower species influence the attraction and abundance of beneficial insects, such as parasitoid wasps, ladybugs, hoverflies, and bees, while also contributing to biodiversity conservation. By monitoring flower phenology and conducting insect sampling across different wildflower species, we found that Erucaria microcarpa exhibited the earliest blooming and attracted the highest proportion of beneficial insects (49%), followed by Diplotaxis acris (24%) and Rumex cyprius (19%). Bees were the most frequent visitors across all flower strips, followed by ladybugs, hoverflies, and wasps. These findings suggest that certain desert wildflowers can play a key role in attracting natural enemies of pests and supporting biodiversity in arid agricultural systems. Further long-term studies could expand on these findings by examining seasonal variations, insect behavior, and the reproductive success of pest natural enemies, guiding policy and practice for sustainable agriculture in dryland regions.