Enhancing Beneficial Insects

Using Native Plants

Douglas A. Landis and Anna K. Fiedler Department of EntomologyMichigan State University

East Lansing, MI USA

Introduction to beneficial insects

Role of plants in enhancing beneficial insects

Research on native plants

Implications for agricultural landscapes

Outline

Pollinators-Honey bees-Native bees

Natural enemies-Predators-Parasitoids

Beneficial Insects

Arthropod-Mediated Ecosystem Services (AMES)

$57 B/y$3.1 B/y pollination$4.5 B/y pest suppression

Losey & Vaughan BioScience, 2006

Natural enemies may require:

FoodNectarPollenSap, honeydew

Alternate host/preyShelter

Conservation Biological Control

Habitat Management

Native plants–Provide ecosystem services–Enhance native biodiversity–Restoration of imperiled habitats –Habitat permanency (perennials)

Widely used plants in habitat management –Dill Anethum graveolens–Coriander Coriandrum sativum–Buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum–Alyssum Lobularia maritima–Faba bean Vicia faba

Assess natural enemy attractiveness to native plants

Determine important plant characteristics

SARE Project Goals

- 43 native perennials, 5 recommended non-native annuals

- RCBD, 5 replicates - 245 total 1m2 plots- 2 hectares

20032004

2005

Methods: Plot Establishment

Plant characteristics

Week of peak bloom

Flower height

Corolla depth, width (Spot imaging system)

Flower hue, chroma (S 2000 Fiber optic spectrophotometer)

Floral area/ m2 plot (Scion image)

Methods: Plant Sampling

Methods: Insect Sampling

Insects identified to family, counted (77,883 total)

Vacuum-sampled all flowers for 30 seconds during 3 weeks of peak bloom

(Stihl BG55)

Sampled grass areas between plots weekly

2005 Bloom PeriodOct

Week: 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 1Sambucus racemosaFragaria virginianaGeranium maculatumAquilegia canadensisZizia aureaSenecio obovatusHydrophyllum virginianumAnemone canadensisPenstemon hirsutusAngelica atropurpureaHeracleum maximumHeuchera americanaCoreopsis lanceolataVicia fabaPotentilla fruticosaApocynum cannabinumCeanothus americanaAsclepias tuberosaRosa setigeraCephalanthus occidentalisCoriandrum sativumScrophularia marilandicaFagopyrum esculentumVerbena strictaAsclepias incarnataVeronicastrum virginicumRatibida pinnataAmorpha canescensOenothera biennisAllium cernuumDesmodium canadenseSpiraea albaAgastache nepetoidesMonarda punctataVernonia missuricaSilphium perfoliatumCacalia atriplicifoliaEupatorium perfoliatumLobelia siphiliticaAnethum graveolensLobularia maritimaHelianthus strumosusLespedeza hirtaLiatris asperaSolidago riddelliiSolidago speciosaAster novae-angliaeAster laevis

Mid

Se

as

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SepAug

Ea

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JulMay Jun

2005 Bloom Period

s

s

s

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s

p

OctWeek: 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 1

Sambucus racemosaFragaria virginianaGeranium maculatumAquilegia canadensisZizia aureaSenecio obovatusHydrophyllum virginianumAnemone canadensisPenstemon hirsutusAngelica atropurpureaHeracleum maximumHeuchera americanaCoreopsis lanceolataVicia fabaPotentilla fruticosaApocynum cannabinumCeanothus americanaAsclepias tuberosaRosa setigeraCephalanthus occidentalisCoriandrum sativumScrophularia marilandicaFagopyrum esculentumVerbena strictaAsclepias incarnataVeronicastrum virginicumRatibida pinnataAmorpha canescensOenothera biennisAllium cernuumDesmodium canadenseSpiraea albaAgastache nepetoidesMonarda punctataVernonia missuricaSilphium perfoliatumCacalia atriplicifoliaEupatorium perfoliatumLobelia siphiliticaAnethum graveolensLobularia maritimaHelianthus strumosusLespedeza hirtaLiatris asperaSolidago riddelliiSolidago speciosaAster novae-angliaeAster laevis

Mid

Se

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La

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SepAug

Ea

rly

Se

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JulMay Jun

p

s

s

s

s

2005 Bloom PeriodOct

Week: 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 1Sambucus racemosaFragaria virginianaGeranium maculatumAquilegia canadensisZizia aureaSenecio obovatusHydrophyllum virginianumAnemone canadensisPenstemon hirsutusAngelica atropurpureaHeracleum maximumHeuchera americanaCoreopsis lanceolataVicia fabaPotentilla fruticosaApocynum cannabinumCeanothus americanaAsclepias tuberosaRosa setigeraCephalanthus occidentalisCoriandrum sativumScrophularia marilandicaFagopyrum esculentumVerbena strictaAsclepias incarnataVeronicastrum virginicumRatibida pinnataAmorpha canescensOenothera biennisAllium cernuumDesmodium canadenseSpiraea albaAgastache nepetoidesMonarda punctataVernonia missuricaSilphium perfoliatumCacalia atriplicifoliaEupatorium perfoliatumLobelia siphiliticaAnethum graveolensLobularia maritimaHelianthus strumosusLespedeza hirtaLiatris asperaSolidago riddelliiSolidago speciosaAster novae-angliaeAster laevis

Mid

Se

as

on

La

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so

n

SepAug

Ea

rly

Se

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JulMay Jun

0

50

100

150

200

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300w

ild

bee a

bu

nd

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ce

Bombus impatiens

Lasioglossum admirandum

Hylaeus affinis

Agapostemon virescens

Halictus ligatus

Ceratina calcarata/dupla (♀)

Xylocopa v. virginica

all others (~40 spp.)

0

50

100

150

200

250

plant species

ho

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Apis mellifera

Bee Abundance at Native Plants

early middle late

Tuell et al. Environ. Entomol. In press

Natural Enemies Collected at Flowers

Total natural enemies collected, 2005

Col 2: 12.0000 Col 2: 144.0000 Col 2: 20.0000 Col 2: 857.0000 Col 2: 75.0000 Col 2: 22.0000 Col 2: 95.0000 Col 2: 78.0000 Col 2: 74.0000 Col 2: 441.0000 Col 2: 3485.0000 Col 2: 13.0000 Col 2: 225.0000 Col 2: 69.0000 Col 2: 587.0000 Col 2: 28.0000 Col 2: 1542.0000 Col 2: 153.0000 Col 2: 918.0000 Col 2: 4259.0000 Col 2: 119.0000 Col 2: 928.0000

Soldier beetles

Minute pirate bug

Lady beetles

Spiders

Chalcids

Syrphid flies

Predatory mirids

Nabids

Dance fliesTotal natural enemies collected, 2005

Col 2: 12.0000 Col 2: 144.0000 Col 2: 20.0000 Col 2: 857.0000 Col 2: 75.0000 Col 2: 22.0000 Col 2: 95.0000 Col 2: 78.0000 Col 2: 74.0000 Col 2: 441.0000 Col 2: 3485.0000 Col 2: 13.0000 Col 2: 225.0000 Col 2: 69.0000 Col 2: 587.0000 Col 2: 28.0000 Col 2: 1542.0000 Col 2: 153.0000 Col 2: 918.0000 Col 2: 4259.0000 Col 2: 119.0000 Col 2: 928.0000

Soldier beetles

Minute pirate bug

Lady beetles

Spiders

Chalcids

Syrphid flies

Predatory mirids

Nabids

Dance flies

30%25%

2005 data

Plant species

0

5

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zeroNu

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Native

Grass controlNonnative

Early Season: May – mid June

2005 data http://native plants.msu.edu

Plant species

0

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zeroNu

mb

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Native

Grass controlNonnative

Early Season: May – mid June

2005 data

Early Season: May – mid June

2005 data Plant species

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

zeroNu

mb

er

of

na

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ies

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Native

Grass controlNonnative

2005 data

Mid Season: July – mid August

2005 data Plant species

Nu

mb

er

of

na

tura

l en

em

ies

pe

r sa

mp

le

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Native

Grass controlNonnative

2005 data

Plant species

Nu

mb

er

of

natu

ral e

ne

mie

s p

er

sam

ple

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

190

200

210

220

230

240

Native

Grass controlNonnative

Late Season: mid August – September

2005 data

Most Attractive Plant Species

Bloom 2005 Peak Bloom Date

Common Name Genus and species Plant Type

Tolerance

e 24 May Wild strawberry Fragaria virginiana Duchesne* Forb Average

e 6 June Golden alexanders Zizia aurea (L.) Koch Forb Wet

e 14 June Canada anemone Anemone canadensis L.* Forb Average

e 14 June Penstemon Penstemon hirsutus (L.) Willd. Forb Average

e 14 June Angelica Angelica atropurpurea L.* Forb Average

e 21 June Cow parsnip Heracleum maximum Bartr.* Forb Average

e 21 June Sand coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata L. Forb Dry

m 12 July Shrubby cinquefoil Potentilla fruticosa auct. non L. Shrub Average

m 12 July Indian hemp Apocynum cannabinum L.** Forb Average

m 2 Aug. Hoary vervain Verbena stricta Vent. Forb Dry

m 2 Aug. Swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata L. Forb Wet

m 2 Aug. Yellow coneflower Ratibida pinnata (Vent.) Barnh. Forb Average

m 9 Aug. Evening primrose Oenothera biennis L.~ Forb Average

m 9 Aug. Meadowsweet Spiraea alba Duroi Shrub Wet

l 16 Aug. Yellow giant hyssop Agastache nepetoides (L.) Kuntze Forb Average

l 16 Aug Horsemint Monarda punctata L. Forb Dry

l 23 Aug. Ironweed Vernonia missurica Raf. Forb Average

l 23 Aug Cup plant Silphium perfoliatum L. Forb Average

l 23 Aug Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum L. Forb Wet

l 23 Aug Blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica L. Forb Average

l 30 Aug. Pale-leaved sunflower Helianthus strumosus L. Forb Dry

l 13 Aug. Riddell's goldenrod Solidago riddellii Frank ex Riddell^ Forb Wet

l 20 Sept. New England aster Aster novae-angliae L. Forb Average

l 27 Sept. Smooth aster Aster laevis L. Forb Average

http://nativeplants.msu.edu

Attractive Flower Characteristics

Not:–Flower height–Corolla depth, width–Flower color/saturation

Natural enemies and bees both like:–Large floral area relative to time of season

Win-Win Scenarios

• On-farm conservation

Win-Win Scenarios

• Biofuel production

Broader Implications

• Consistent with conservation goals– Soil and water– Biodiversity– Ecosystem services

• Rural Sustainability– Native Plant Nurseries– Agrotourism

Learn More

“Enhancing Beneficial Insects with Native Plants”

http://nativeplants.msu.edu

Undergraduate Research Assistants:Jessica Steffen, Dawn Richards, Emily Knoblock, Bob McDonald, Alissa Berro, Matt Wood, Chuck Stahlman, Charlie Richards, Tara Lehman, Mike Wayo, and Ryan Alderson.

http://nativeplants.msu.edu

Research collaborators:Bill SchneiderGene Vogel, Richard StuckeyJulianna Tuell, Rufus IsaacsUSDA NRCSIngham County Soil Conservation DistrictMSU IPM

Identification support:Gary ParsonsDr. Debra Trock

Landis lab:Chris Sebolt, Jeff Evans, Mary Gardiner, Alejandro Costamagna

Acknowledgements

Funding Support: USDA Sustainable Agriculture Special Grant