The importance of landscape complexity for biological control is well-known, but its functional roles are poorly understood. Objectives We evaluated the landscape capacity to provide floral resources for beneficial insects and its consequences for biological control in fields. Methods The gut contents of adult hoverflies sampled in 41 cereal fields were analysed to determine which plant species are exploited. The relative value of each habitat in providing adequate pollen resources was evaluated by vegetation survey. Then 15 cereal fields were selected along a gradient of landscape complexity, where the abundance of aphids, hoverfly larvae and aphid parasitism was monitored. The proportion of each habitat in landscape buffers surrounding these fields was calculated and used to assess the potential level of pollen resources provision (LP index). Results Aphid abundance significantly decreased with an increase of the LP index mainly sustained by grassy strips and weeds in fields. However, hoverfly larvae abundance also decreased with the increasing LP index. The enhancement of the aphid parasitism rate with the LP index suggests that aphid parasitoids may benefit from the same floral resources as hoverflies. Their crop habitat specialism may give them a competitive advantage in crop fields where both aphid and floral resources are abundant. Conclusions Complex interaction networks involved in biological control may disrupt the expected direct effects of floral resource provisioning for a focal beneficial species. We highlighted two habitats provisioning floral resources for which the LP index could be very helpful to optimize management strategies to improve biological control.