Supporting Beneficial Insects in Farms and Orchards

Agricultural systems that support beneficial insects can achieve effective pest control, enhanced pollination, and improved ecosystem health while reducing reliance on chemical pesticides. Integrating beneficial insects into farms and orchards through habitat management, reduced pesticide use, and strategic plantings is a cornerstone of integrated pest management (IPM) and sustainable agriculture. This approach benefits both crop production and environmental health, creating more resilient and productive agricultural systems across the United States.

Habitat Management: Creating Beneficial Insect Refuges

Providing habitat for beneficial insects is fundamental to supporting their populations:

• Flowering Strips and Hedgerows: Planting native flowering plants along field edges, in hedgerows, or as strips within fields provides nectar and pollen for adult beneficial insects. These areas also serve as refuges when fields are disturbed or treated.
• Cover Crops: Diverse cover crops, especially those that flower (like clovers, buckwheat, or phacelia), support beneficial insects while improving soil health. They provide resources during times when cash crops are not in bloom.
• Permanent Vegetation: Maintaining permanent vegetation areas (grasslands, woodlots, or restored native plant communities) provides stable habitat for beneficial insects, supporting populations that can move into crop fields when needed.

Reducing Pesticide Impacts

Pesticide use is one of the greatest threats to beneficial insects:

• Selective Pesticides: When pesticides are necessary, choose selective products that target specific pests while minimizing harm to beneficial insects. Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides during peak beneficial insect activity.
• Timing: Apply pesticides when beneficial insects are least active (e.g., early morning or late evening) and avoid applications during bloom times when pollinators are active.
• IPM Principles: Use pesticides only when pest populations exceed economic thresholds, and integrate with other control methods (biological, cultural, mechanical) to reduce overall pesticide use.
• Systemic Pesticides: Be cautious with systemic pesticides (like neonicotinoids) that can persist in plant tissues and harm pollinators and other beneficial insects long after application.

Supporting Pollinators in Agricultural Systems

Many crops benefit from or require pollination:

• Native Bee Support: Providing nesting habitat (bare ground, dead wood, or bee hotels) and diverse flowering plants supports native bees, which are often more efficient pollinators than honeybees for many crops.
• Seasonal Resources: Ensure flowering resources are available before and after crop bloom, supporting pollinator populations throughout the season.
• Pesticide-Free Zones: Maintain pesticide-free buffer zones around pollinator-dependent crops, especially during bloom.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Regular monitoring helps assess the effectiveness of beneficial insect support:

• Beneficial Insect Surveys: Regularly survey for beneficial insects (lady beetles, lacewings, parasitoid wasps) to assess population levels and diversity.
• Pest Monitoring: Monitor pest populations to determine if beneficial insects are providing adequate control, informing decisions about additional management actions.
• Pollinator Observations: Observe pollinator activity in crops to assess pollination services and identify any issues that need addressing.

Supporting beneficial insects in farms and orchards is a win-win strategy that enhances pest control, improves pollination, and promotes ecosystem health while reducing costs and environmental impacts. By integrating habitat management, reducing pesticide use, and monitoring beneficial insect populations, farmers and orchardists can create more sustainable, productive, and resilient agricultural systems.