not in Young The area of farmland used for growing small-seeded papilionaceous, leguminous and tuber crops is gradually decreasing in our agrocenoses. Cereal monocultures are becoming more popular. Another undesirable factor is the disappearance of groups of trees or brambles and strips of grass between fields. As the number of cultivated crops and wild plants goes down, the biological diversity of a given agricultural system diminishes. The effect of the above changes can be reduced by introducing alternative plants, also known as new crops. In the north-eastern part of Poland, willow (Salix spp.) draws much attention. Another alternative plant, which can gain considerable area of cultivation is oriental goat's rue (Galega orientalis Lam.). There is also some potential for evening primrose (Oenothera paradoxa Hudziok). Our study has shown that assemblages of zoophags in plantations of the above crops vary in terms of their number and species composition. They made up 13% in willow pl! antations, 14% in oriental goat's rue plantations and 10% in evening primrose plantations of the total entomofauna. In the case of oriental goat's rue and evening primrose plantations, spiders (Araneida) were dominant. In fields overgrown with willow, hymenopterans (Hymenoptera), owing to the numerous presence of Ichneumonidae and Formicidae, were the most frequently occurring order among zoophagous species. Plantations of the alternative crops selected for our investigations possess high natural value because of their rich diversity and a wealth of species of arthropods, which populate such plant habitats. They are a much more suitable ecological niche than cereal plantations, which prevail in agrocenoses today. Cultivation of alternative crops can be considered as an activity which stimulates occurrence of species that make up an important group of animals. BR Conservation. Conservation measures. Nutrition. Diet. Prey. Ecology. Community structure. Habitat. Man made habitat. Land zones. Palaearctic region. Eurasia. Europe. Arthropoda (Animalia): Predator; Insecta (Arthropoda): Prey. Arthropoda: Habitat management, Alternative plant provision, Insect prey, Trophic structure, Attraction of entomophages, Ecological niche, Species diversity, Cultivated land habitat, Farmland, Poland, Olsztyn; Insecta: Predators, Arthropoda, Cultivated land habitat, Farmland, Arthropod predators, Poland, Olsztyn. ST Animalia, Arthropoda. Arthropods; Insects; Invertebrates. noneEmailNV08 none2007checked