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
on
La
te S
ea
so
n
SepAug
Ea
rly
Se
as
on
JulMay Jun
2005 Bloom Period
s
s
s
s
s
s
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
as
on
La
te S
ea
so
n
SepAug
Ea
rly
Se
as
on
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
te S
ea
so
n
SepAug
Ea
rly
Se
as
on
JulMay Jun
0
50
100
150
200
250
300w
ild
bee a
bu
nd
an
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
neyb
ee a
bu
nd
an
ce
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
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
zeroNu
mb
er
of
na
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ies
pe
r sa
mp
le
Native
Grass controlNonnative
Early Season: May – mid June
2005 data http://native plants.msu.edu
Plant species
0
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10
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20
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30
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40
zeroNu
mb
er
of
na
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ies
pe
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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
tura
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em
ies
pe
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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