Australia's horticulture industries are trialling using rows of sweet-smelling flowers to improve vegetable production.
Pest insects cost Australia's horticulture industries millions of dollars in crop losses, damage and control measures every year.
The Schreurs family grow leeks, lettuces, wombok and other leafy greens in the rich alluvial soil of Devon Meadows, south-east of Melbourne.
All of these crops are susceptible to attack from thrips, aphids and caterpillars.
But for Darren Schreurs, spraying with insecticides is a last resort.
"Every chemical I'm putting out is wiping out not just the pests but also wiping out all these beneficial insects," Mr Schreurs said.
Beneficial bugs kill pests
He has spent the past two decades working on ways to encourage predator insects to control the pest species.
So when Hort Innovation, Australia's peak horticultural body invited him to take part in a nationwide trial he eagerly accepted.
Entomologists from Charles Sturt University advised him to plant a trial of sweet alyssum, cornflower and buckwheat next to his wombok to make it a cosy habitat for the beneficial bugs.
"This provides them with shelter, with nectar, with pollen and alternate prey sources," entomologist Dr Olivia Reynolds said.
She and her colleagues have trapped a cross-section of the insects living near the flowers. The results are encouraging.
"We found some great levels of brown lacewings, some ladybugs and some other really interesting insects that we are yet to identify," Dr Reynolds said.
"Including what looks to be quite a number of parasitic wasps."
Diversity is key
It is an approach that tries to mimic nature, a difficult task when modern farming typically has monocultural crops.
"In nature, we rarely get serious outbreaks of pests and seeing the plants being devastated," said Professor Geoff Gurr of Charles Sturt University.
"What we're doing in a system like this is trying to make the farm a little bit closer to nature and suppress the pests in a more natural fashion."
"Good bugs like diversity," added Ashley Zemak of Hort Innovation.
"They love a diverse meal to help them sustain their lives."
The study, known as 'habitat manipulation', is still in its early stages but preliminary findings show more diversity of vegetation invariably means a greater range of beneficial insects.
Harnessing an unseen bug army
Scientists will try to determine how best to encourage them by comparing flower species, the proximity of flowers to vegetable crops and the impact that the good bugs are having on the bad.
Mr Schreurs said harnessing nature was cost-effective and good for the environment. He is excited by the thought that he has a tireless, largely unseen army working in his fields.
"Knowing that they work 24/7 is a great feeling," he said.
"I'm seeing more and more of these critters out in the field and it's terrific to see."
Watch this story on ABC TV's Landline on Sunday at 12:30pm or on iview.
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