Beauty with BenefitsBeauty with Benefits

Naturescaping Vineyards forNaturescaping Vineyards forBiological Control of PestsBiological Control of Pests

and Pollinator Conservationand Pollinator Conservation

David G James, Washington State UniversityDavid G James, Washington State University

The opportunity now exists to linkThe opportunity now exists to linkviticultural pest management withviticultural pest management with

nature, wildlife and pollinatornature, wildlife and pollinatorconservationconservation

Washington viticulture is low-inputWashington viticulture is low-input and sustainableand sustainable

Conservation biological controlConservation biological control & ‘soft’ pesticides& ‘soft’ pesticidesare key features of IPM are key features of IPM

Before vineyards, the hillsBefore vineyards, the hills and valleys of easternand valleys of eastern Washington were aliveWashington were alive

with native florawith native flora and pollinatorsand pollinators

Pollinator populations havePollinator populations havesuffered as habitats and nativesuffered as habitats and native

flora have been displaced…flora have been displaced…

Mylitta CrescentMylitta Crescent

Sagebrush Checkerspot

Boisduval’s Blues

The Monarch

Habitat Restoration for VineyardsHabitat Restoration for Vineyardsusing native plantsusing native plants

1.1.REFUGIAREFUGIA: to bring biocontrol : to bring biocontrol agents (ie beneficials) closer to theagents (ie beneficials) closer to the

grapevinesgrapevines

2. 2. GROUND COVERSGROUND COVERS: to provide in-crop re-fueling: to provide in-crop re-fueling zone for beneficials/pollinatorszone for beneficials/pollinators

Native plants are hardy and climate adapted.Native plants are hardy and climate adapted.They do not need special attention and survive onThey do not need special attention and survive on

minimal nutrient and water resourcesminimal nutrient and water resources

They are ‘home’ andThey are ‘home’ and provide food to all theprovide food to all the

natural enemies of grapenatural enemies of grape pests that we rely on forpests that we rely on for

biological controlbiological control

Many serve as hostMany serve as hostand/or nectar plantsand/or nectar plantsfor butterflies and for butterflies and other pollinatorsother pollinators

But which local native plants are ‘best’ But which local native plants are ‘best’ in terms of ‘pulling’ and retainingin terms of ‘pulling’ and retaining

beneficial insects ?beneficial insects ?

Information was not availableInformation was not available

Beneficial Insects for VineyardsBeneficial Insects for Vineyards

**LacewingsLacewings*Ladybeetles*Ladybeetles**Predatory BugsPredatory Bugs*Beneficial Flies*Beneficial Flies*Predatory Thrips*Predatory Thrips*Parasitic Wasps*Parasitic Wasps*Native Bees*Native Bees

*~ 120 species of flowering plants*~ 120 species of flowering plants*9-24 traps for each species/season*9-24 traps for each species/season

*Total of > 3000 traps/season*Total of > 3000 traps/season

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Sagebrush Gray Rabbitbrush Oregon SunshineWestern ClematisNorthern BuckwheatShowy MilkweedSlender HawksbeardTall BuckwheatYarrowSnow Buckwheat

All Beneficials

““THE TOP TEN”THE TOP TEN”

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““The bottom ten”The bottom ten”

Carey’s balsamrootCarey’s balsamrootBlazing starBlazing starPrairie cloverPrairie cloverGrays desert parsleyGrays desert parsleyTriteleiaTriteleiaDandelionDandelionGold starsGold starsLarge-fruited desert parsleyLarge-fruited desert parsleyHairy balsamrootHairy balsamrootGiant-head cloverGiant-head clover

1. Sagebrush2. Spreading Dogbane3. Slender Hawksbeard4. Sunflower5. Oregon Sunshine6. Yarrow7. Gray Rabbitbrush8. Goldenrod9. Pearly Everlasting10. Ocean Spray11. Green Rabbitbrush12. Tall Buckwheat13. Narrow-leaved Milkweed14. Threadleaf fleabane15. Northern Buckwheat16. Wyeths Lupine17. Western Clematis18. Showy Milkweed

19. Mock Orange20. Shaggy Daisy21. Russian Olive22. Coyote Willow23. Whitestem Frasera24. Parsnip Buckwheat25. Western Hyssop26. Coyote Mint27. Blue Elderberry28. Alfalfa29. Strict Buckwheat30. Blanket Flower31. Columbia Cutleaf32. Snow Buckwheat33. Dusty Maidens34. Western Wallflower35. Silverleaf Phacelia36. Chokecherry

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NORTHERN BUCKWHEATSTRICT BUCKWHEATNETTLETEASELGOLDEN CURRANT

LADYBEETLES

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TALL BUCKWHEATSAGEBRUSHWESTERN CLEMATISWESTERN GOLDENRODTEASELNETTLEGRAY RABBITBRUSH

PREDATORYBUGS

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OREGON SUNSHINESLENDER HAWKSBEARDWESTERN CLEMATISYARROWTHREADLEAF FLEABANEDUSTY MAIDENSSHOWY MILKWEEDWOODS ROSENORTHERN BUCKWHEATLUPINE

BENEFICIAL FLIES

Attracts the greatest number of beneficialsAttracts the greatest number of beneficials(in terms of numbers of individuals)(in terms of numbers of individuals)

However, only 5 of the 10 groupsHowever, only 5 of the 10 groupsof beneficials represented in of beneficials represented in large numbers (parasitic waspslarge numbers (parasitic waspsand predatory bugs)and predatory bugs)

#1 Big Sagebrush#1 Big Sagebrush

Fall floweringFall flowering

Refugia plantRefugia plant

RabbitbrushRabbitbrush

Attracts large numbers of beneficial insectsAttracts large numbers of beneficial insects

important autumn nectar source for butterfliesimportant autumn nectar source for butterflies and larval host for sagebrush checkerspotand larval host for sagebrush checkerspot

Plants with benefits for biological Plants with benefits for biological control agents and butterfliescontrol agents and butterflies

BuckwheatsBuckwheats

Attract large numbersAttract large numbersof beneficial insectsof beneficial insects

10 species: Spring-summer-flowering10 species: Spring-summer-flowering

Buckwheats are caterpillar hosts for adozen or more species of blues, coppers

and hairstreaks in Washington

Blue CopperBlue CopperLycaena heteroneaLycaena heteronea

MilkweedsMilkweeds(2 species)(2 species)

Attract large numbersAttract large numbersof beneficial insectsof beneficial insects

Many butterfliesMany butterfliesuse it as nectaruse it as nectar

sourcesource

Monarch hostMonarch host

Milkweed in a WSUMilkweed in a WSUvineyard at Prosservineyard at Prosserhosting caterpillarshosting caterpillars

of the Monarchof the Monarch(June 2014)(June 2014)

LupinesLupines Attractive to beneficialsAttractive to beneficials

Larval host for at least 3 species of butterfliesLarval host for at least 3 species of butterflies

WillowsWillows Attract many beneficial insectsAttract many beneficial insects

Larval host to four Larval host to four butterfliesbutterflies

ViceroyViceroy

LorquinsLorquins AdmiralAdmiral

TigerTigerSwallowtailSwallowtail

Mourning CloakMourning Cloak

Twelve of the top 20 ranked plants for beneficial insectTwelve of the top 20 ranked plants for beneficial insectattraction are also host plants for ~ 16 butterfly speciesattraction are also host plants for ~ 16 butterfly species

Eighteen of the 20 are important nectar providers for butterfliesEighteen of the 20 are important nectar providers for butterflies

A great opportunity exists to combine vineyardA great opportunity exists to combine vineyard habitat restoration for pest control withhabitat restoration for pest control with

butterfly conservation!butterfly conservation!

Ruddy Copper Ruddy Copper Lycaena rubidusLycaena rubidus

Comparing Native Habitat-Enhanced and Conventional Vineyards

Pest and beneficial insect and mite fauna and butterfliesevaluated and monitored 2011-2013

8 cooperating commercial vineyards8 cooperating commercial vineyards

*4 Habitat-Enhanced *4 Conventional

QuincyQuincyColumbia GorgeColumbia Gorge

Red MountainRed MountainWalla WallaWalla Walla

Habitat-Enhanced:Habitat-Enhanced:30-50 flowering native plant species in 30-50 flowering native plant species in

or close to vineyard (< 50m)or close to vineyard (< 50m)

Conventional:Conventional:<10 flowering native plant species<10 flowering native plant species

near (< 50m) vineyardnear (< 50m) vineyard

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Conventional VineyardsHabitat-enhanced VineyardsAdjacent Habitat

ALL BENEFICIAL INSECTS (2013)

2013

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Conventional (Ambassador)Habitat-enhanced (Upchurch)Habitat-enhanced (Ciel du Cheval)

Red MountainPestsAll Pests

Conventional Habitat-enhanced

2013

Habitat-Enhanced Vineyard:Habitat-Enhanced Vineyard:

99 butterfly species seen butterfly species seen

2011

Conventional Vineyard;Conventional Vineyard;

11 butterfly species seen butterfly species seen 2011

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Number of butterfly species seen in habitat-enhancedNumber of butterfly species seen in habitat-enhanced

and conventional vineyards and conventional vineyards 2011-20132011-2013

Mean number of butterfly species seen in habitat-enhanced andMean number of butterfly species seen in habitat-enhanced andconventional vineyards in Columbia Gorge and Walla Wallaconventional vineyards in Columbia Gorge and Walla Walla

2012-20132012-2013

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Habitat-enhancedConventional

Columbia Gorge WallaWalla

Mean number of individual butterfliesMean number of individual butterfliesseen in Gorge and Walla vineyardsseen in Gorge and Walla vineyards during 0.5 hr visits in 2012-2013during 0.5 hr visits in 2012-2013

Numbers of butterfliesNumbers of butterfliesgreater in vineyards greater in vineyards

that have been restoringthat have been restoringhabitat for at least 5-8 yrshabitat for at least 5-8 yrs

There are > 50 butterfly species that could be encouragedThere are > 50 butterfly species that could be encouragedto occupy Washington vineyards with to occupy Washington vineyards with

cultivation of host plantscultivation of host plants

We’ve already seen half of these We’ve already seen half of these in the habitat-enhanced vineyardsin the habitat-enhanced vineyards

we monitorwe monitor

Stinging Nettle:Stinging Nettle: Good for parasitic wasps,Good for parasitic wasps,flies and predatory bugsflies and predatory bugs

Also hosts 5 butterfliesAlso hosts 5 butterfliesIn Washington…….In Washington…….

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Pest Management Pest Management andand

Nature ConservationNature Conservation

will increasingly be entwined as pesticidewill increasingly be entwined as pesticideinputs decrease and the need for speciesinputs decrease and the need for species

conservation increasesconservation increases

Incarcerated Citizen Science at Incarcerated Citizen Science at Walla Walla Penitentiary:Walla Walla Penitentiary:

Mass rearing endemic butterfly species in easternMass rearing endemic butterfly species in easternWashington for introduction to habitat-enhancedWashington for introduction to habitat-enhanced

vineyardsvineyards

Butterflies could become a symbol of the Washington wine industry’sButterflies could become a symbol of the Washington wine industry’sCommitment to sustainability and local biodiversityCommitment to sustainability and local biodiversity

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