Agroecosystems often lack suitable habitat for beneficial insects, reducing the likelihood that crops receive optimal insect pollination and biological pest control services. Flowering companion plants grown alongside specialty crops like peppers (Capsicum annum) are thought to promote insect pollinators and natural enemies by providing alternative food and nesting resources. However, the identity and diversity of companion plants most effective at promoting beneficial insects and their ecosystem services on farms is not well understood. We assessed the effect of three flowering plant species, buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), and sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima), on beneficial and pest insect visitation to production pepper plants. Pepper plants were grown in the presence of zero, one, two, or three species of companion plants and insect visitation to the pepper and companion plants was recorded via visual observations and trail camera monitoring. Pollination and biological pest control ecosystem services on pepper plants in response to the companion plant treatments was measured. Results indicate that companion plants increase beneficial insect visitation to pepper plants. The presence of companion plants also led to higher pepper yields and lower abundance of sentinel green peach aphids (Myzus persicae), a common vegetable pest. These results emphasize the importance of in-season biodiversity in enhancing farm health and productivity through the attraction of beneficial insects.
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