Pest Management - Growing Organic Orchard Fruits - page 532

unrelated and innocuous insect or mite. The important point to remember
is that without prey to survive on, predators and parasites will either die or
move out of the orchard to areas where prey are available. In convention-
al orchards, fruit growers often try to eradicate a pest using insecticides or
miticides. In organic systems, the goal is to maintain pest populations that
are too low to cause significant damage to your crops but large enough to
support healthy populations of predators and parasites.
Common insectary crops include dill, chamomile, hairy vetch, spearmint,
Queen Anne's lace, buckwheat, yarrow, white clover, cowpea, cosmos, and
other species. Some grasses, particularly those that have glandular leaves,
can also provide habitat for beneficials. In some cases, you might be able to
include herbal or ornamental crops in the insectary planting for cash flow or
personal use. Using a mix of plants that flower throughout the summer can
help support bees that you can use to pollinate your orchard in spring.
One strategy for an organic orchard is to maintain a planting of insectary
crops within 50 feet of all trees. This might be accomplished by including in-
sectary crops in alleyways, in in-row plantings using the “sandwich system”
described in chapter 9 ➔ , or in non-tree rows throughout the planting.
Noninsect and Non-mite Predators
Don't forget that many animals feed on insects, chief among them being
birds and bats. Start by finding out which species of birds and bats in your
area feed on insects that might become pests in your orchard. Learn about
the nesting habits and living requirements for these beneficial birds and
bats, and design nesting facilities and perching sites to support them in and
around your orchard.
Wild Birds
If you live in an area where bluebirds live, for example, consider installing
nesting boxes on the fence line around your orchard. About 80 percent of a
bluebird's diet is insects. Be aware, however, that the other 20 percent comes
from berries and fruits from small trees and bushes. You want to maintain