Impacts of the control of weeds and herbicides applied to natural enemies

Abstract

Weeds compete for different resources with crops and the management of these plants is necessary so that production losses can be minimized. On the other hand, the diversity of plant species which behave as weeds can positively contribute to the survival of many arthropods and natural enemies. The objective of this review was to systematize the scientific evidence on the impacts of control of weeds and herbicides applied to non-target insects such as predators and parasitoids of pests, which are beneficial for agriculture and present in different agricultural crops. In this sense, consequences of control of weeds on insects present in agroecosystems were reported, as well as the potential risks of widespread use of herbicides on crops. Finally, this review compiles the current state of knowledge on ecological relationships in agricultural systems, focusing sustainable weed management, coupled with an integrated pest management.