ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY OF BENEFICIAL ARTHROPODS IN CONVENTIONAL AND ORGANIC CARROT CROPS IN NEW-ZEALAND

The abundance and ecological diversity of selected groups of beneficia l arthropods were compared between 16 organic and 17 conventional carr ot (Daucus carota L.) fields in the Manawatu (North Island) and Canter bury and Nelson (South Island) areas of New Zealand using a suction sa mpler. Organic fields had significantly higher numbers of Hymenoptera: Parasitica, Staphylinidae (Coleoptera), and Neuroptera (Hemerobiidae) compared with conventional fields. Organic fields also had a signific antly more diverse predatory and parasitic community than did conventi onal fields, as measured by the ''Sequential Comparison Index''. The i mplications of these results for biological control of pests in conven tional and organic crops are discussed.