Peaches are a valuable crop in the southeastern USA. Despite the popularity of peaches, little is known about the communities of beneficial arthropods in orchards that may contribute ecosystem services such as biological control and pollination. Peaches also experience heavy pest pressure. To combat this pest pressure, commercial growers manage pests with broad spectrum pesticides. These broad spectrum pesticides may negatively affect communities of beneficial arthropods and their corollary ecosystem services. Some growers chose to manage peach pests with a greater IPM emphasis by using fewer, less intense, or organic pesticides in an effort to conserve beneficial arthropods. This study aims to catalog the abundance, diversity and spatiotemporal activity of communities of beneficial arthropods in peach orchards under different management regimens. Ultimately, this project will elucidate how management alters these communities, providing invaluable data for developing future IPM programs.
