Habitat eradication and cropland intensification may reduce parasitoid diversity and natural pest control services in annual crop fields Deborah K. Letourneau1* • Sara G. Bothwell Allen1 • Robert R. Kula2 • Michael J. Sharkey3 • John O. Stireman III4 1Department of Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz, California, United States 2Systematic Entomology Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, c/o National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, District of Columbia, United States 3Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States 4Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, United States *
[email protected] Domain Editor-in-Chief Abstract Anne R. Kapuscinski, Dartmouth California’s central coast differs from many agricultural areas in the U.S., which feature large tracts of mono- culture production fields and relatively simple landscapes. Known as the nation’s salad bowl, and producing Guest Editor up to 90% of U.S. production of lettuces, broccoli and Brussels sprouts, this region is a mosaic of fresh veg- Ricardo J. Salvador, Union of etable fields, coastal meadow, chaparral shrubs, riparian and woodland habitat. We tested for relationships Concerned Scientists between the percent cover of crops, riparian and other natural landscape vegetation and the species richness of parasitic wasps and flies foraging in crops, such as broccoli, kale and cauliflower,