Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
occur naturally in your area. The huge advantage is that they are adapted to
the climate and can provide abundant, long-lived populations.
Begin by learning to identify beneficial organisms that are native to
your area. Integrated pest management specialists and entomologists at
universities and state and provincial agricultural organizations can supply
this information, much of which is readily available online. Particularly
good guides and programs are available from Cornell University in New
York, Pennsylvania State University, Washington State University, and the
University of Kentucky. Common beneficials include green lacewings, lady-
bird beetles (ladybugs), big-eyed bugs, damsel bugs, parasitic wasps, and
predatory mites.
Using the resources mentioned above, learn to identify beneficials in your
area, and conduct a survey on your site to determine which beneficials are
present and how large the populations are. Repeat this survey each year at
the same time to monitor your pest management program.
Releasing beneficials.
If you plan to release beneficials in your orchard, the
most effective will be beneficials that are native to your area but not to your
site. Nonnative beneficials might be useful in certain circumstances, but they
seldom produce long-lived populations and must be released on a regular
basis. Be very cautious in releasing nonnative organisms, as they often dis-
perse out of the orchard and you do not want to accidentally introduce an-
other exotic pest into the ecosystem.
use of insectary crops. Insectary crops provide food, shelter, and egg-lay-
ing sites for beneficial insect and mite adults and/or juveniles. Pollen, nectar
from flowers, and exudates from the glands on plant stems and leaves are
important food sources for certain beneficial insects during at least part of
their life cycles.
In many cases, insectary crops support prey for the beneficials. The prey
might be the same pests that attack your fruit crops, related species, or an
