This study evaluated the potential of flowering plant species naturally occurring to promote the conservation and early establishment of key natural enemies of aphids and thrips in apple and peach orchards. Flowering plants present in the North East of Spain, a main fruit production area in Europe, were sampled to determine their flowering period and to identify potential natural enemies present on each plant species. Thirty-six plant species were found blooming from early March to late May and provided an array of flowers that might ensure food resources for natural enemies. Among them, six species – Eruca vesicaria (L.) Cav., Cardaria draba (L.) Desv., Euphorbia serrata (L.) S.G. Gmel., Malva sylvestris L., Anacyclus clavatus (Desf.) Pers. and Diplotaxis erucoides (L.) DC. – hosted a high diversity of potential natural enemies of aphids and thrips. Their blooming started early in the season and lasted for several sampling weeks and they were widely distributed. Moreover, they had available nectar even in those species with protected nectaries. Therefore, these plant species can be considered as promising candidates for inclusion in the ecological infrastructure designed for fruit orchards in the study area to promote the conservation of the biological control agents of aphids and thrips.

中文翻译：

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果园蚜虫和蓟马生物防治剂的昆虫植物选择

本研究评估了天然开花植物物种在促进苹果园和桃园中蚜虫和蓟马主要天敌的保护和早期建立的潜力。对存在于欧洲主要水果产区西班牙东北部的开花植物进行采样以确定其开花期并确定每种植物物种上存在的潜在天敌。从 3 月初到 5 月下旬，发现了 36 种植物开花，并提供了一系列花卉，可以确保天敌的食物资源。其中，六种——芥菜（左）骑士，菝葜(L.) 设计，锯缘大戟(L.) SG Gmel.,锦葵L.,棒状蟒蛇（定义）个人。和荸荠（左）直流。– 寄生了种类繁多的蚜虫和蓟马的潜在天敌。它们的开花在季节初期开始并持续了几个采样周，并且分布广泛。此外，即使在蜜腺受保护的物种中，它们也有可用的花蜜。因此，这些植物物种可以被认为是有希望的候选者，包括在研究区为果园设计的生态基础设施中，以促进对蚜虫和蓟马生物防治剂的保护。