There is an increasing emphasis on protection of remnant native vegetation and on constructing native vegetation shelterbelts and corridors to protect and manage biodiversity in our landscapes. This preliminary work was conducted to explore opportunities to integrate natural resource management with arthropod pest control in irrigated horticulture in the Northern Mallee region, by for example, determining whether remnant Mallee has a positive influence on populations of agriculturally beneficial arthropods. Arthropod populations in remnant Mallee vegetation and adjacent vineyards were sampled using pitfall and pan traps. Samples were collected in December 2003, and January, April and August 2004. The six most common groups found in pitfall traps were, in descending order, ants, mites, beetles, spiders, flies and wasps. The six most common groups in pan traps were thrips, flies, wasps, moths, ants and bugs. Although there were significant differences in counts between bush and vineyards on some occasions for some arthropods, there were no consistent differences over the time period. Other groups, such as centipedes, lacewings, millipedes, cockroaches, slaters and scorpions were found in very low numbers. Selected samples were identified to morphospecies and confirmed by specialist taxonomists. These morphospecies indicate that the diversity of ant, beetle and wasp species is high, even in those limited samples.

Experiments were conducted to determine levels of predation of lightbrown apple moth (LBAM) eggs in bush and vineyards by placing 'egg cards' at the field sites. Predation of LBAM eggs was higher in the Mallee vegetation than in adjacent vineyards on two out of three occasions.

This study also focused on improving the horticultural and general community's understanding of arthropods and their roles in ecosystems through verbal, written and 'hands on' presentations.