BRC Science Highlight Cover Crops and Pest Suppression in Annual Maize Bioenergy Cropping Systems Objective To determine the impact of a winter cover crop in a continuous maize bioenergy cropping system on predators. Approach Using 2 GLBRC sites of Biofuel Cropping System Experiments (BCSE) in Michigan and Wisconsin, we compared insect communities, sentinel prey removal rates, and aphid suppression in maize grown with and without cereal rye/Austrian winter pea cover crops. We contrasted those results to switchgrass and mixed prairie – perennial biofuel feedstocks that are known to support high levels of natural predators. Result/Impacts In maize systems, there was no effect of cover crop on number and diversity of predators, sentinel insect egg prey removal, nor aphid densities. Fig. a. Mean predator abundances averaged across sample dates. Fig. b. Mean predator diversity averaged across sample dates. Notes: text Title again: Text 1-2 sentence summary? Both perennial systems showed greater abundance and diversity of predators, as well as increased biocontrol services compared to maize systems, which is to be expected based on previous studies. Planting a rye-cover crop in continuous maize systems grown for grain and stover did not alter biocontrol services under the studied conditions; however, adding these cover crops can enhance other ecosystem services such as productivity while maintaining soil organic matter, improving some of the environmental and economic factors associated with harvesting maize for cellulosic ethanol. Our study also confirms that perennial biomass crops do enhance biocontrol while enhancing other ecosystem services such as pollination and methane consumption. Fox, A. F. et al. “Cover crops have neutral effects on predator communities and biological control services in annual cellulosic bioenergy cropping systems.” Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment 232, 101-109 (2016) [DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2016.07.003 GLBRC January 2017