Beetle banks

Many grasses are known to act as reservoirs and sources of primary C. purpurea inoculum (Hoffmann and Schmutterer, 1983 Agrios, 1997). Since beetle banks and non-crop field margins are commonly used in organic farming to increase biodiversity, it is possible that these areas may also become sources of Claviceps inoculum. The goal for farmers must be to achieve a balance between the benefits of on-farm biodiversity (e.g. improved habitat for pest predators) and the risk of increased infection by fungi such as Claviceps. 

Pierce, L.H. 1994. Using pheromones for location and suppression of phycitid moths and cigarette beetles in Hawaii A five year summary. In Proceedings of the 6th International Working Conference on Stored-Product Protection (E. Highley, EJ. Wright, HJ. Banks, and B.R. Champ, eds), Vol. 1, pp. 439—443. CAB, Wallingford, Australia. 

---