Gardening for Insects. or not! How Planting Selection Can Impact Insect Populations in Your Landscape

Transcription

1 Gardening for Insects. or not! How Planting Selection Can Impact Insect Populations in Your Landscape

2 This presentation will be posted at the Insect Information Website Housed at Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management Search BSPM CSU Within Outreach Insect Information Extension presentations for 2018 posted at bottom of page

3 Gardening for Insects. or not! How Planting Selection Can Impact Insect Populations in Your Landscape

4 Plants can support populations of desirable insect species Plants may be susceptible to significant pests that limit plant value

5 Garden plantings can affect incidence of. Butterflies Hummingbird moths Miller moths Honey bees Bumble bees Various solitary bees Natural enemies of insect pests Nuisance invaders of buildings Double or Nothing species.

6 Insect Needs Food for their young Food for the adults Shelter (many times)

7 Insect Needs Food for the young

8 Larval Food Example: Painted Lady Larval host plants are thistles, hollyhock, mallow, occasionally legumes and some other plants

9 Insect Needs Food for the adults

10 Adult Food Example: Many predators of garden pests (biological controls)

11 Insect Needs (for some species) Shelter

12 Shelter Example: Nest cavities for leafcutter and mason bees

13 In the beginning there was. Butterfly Gardening

14 Parsleyworm my Gateway Bug to butterfly gardening Susan Ellis photograph

15 Eggs on dill Young larva

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19 Parsleyworms are interesting caterpillars to find in the garden

20 When disturbed the parsleyworm everts a scent gland (osmeterium) from behind the head

21 Bill and Sam checking out a parsleyworm

22 When full grown, the caterpillars retreat to a sheltered area and prepare for the next stage the pupa (chrysalis or chrysalid)

23 Chrysalid (pupal form) of the parsleyworm

24 The adult form of the parsleyworm is known as

25 Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes

26 Butterfly Gardening

27 Principles of Butterfly Gardening Provide for food needs of adults Provide for food needs of larvae (caterpillar) Avoid use of harmful insecticides Provide mud puddling habitat?

28 Foods Used by Butterflies: Nectar, fruit juices, oozing sap.

29 Some Annual Plants Commonly Used by Butterflies Zinnia Larkspur Cosmos Verbena Sunflowers Asters Coreopsis Some marigolds

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31 Some Perennial Plants Commonly Used by Butterflies Butterfly Bush Milkweeds Sedums Lilac Thistles Monarda New England aster Purple coneflower

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33 Massed plantings are most often visited by butterflies

34 Foods Used by Butterflies: Nectar, fruit juices, oozing sap.

35 Brushfooted butterflies (Nymphalidae) will visit a variety of foods, in addition to nectar-bearing flowers.. Hackberry butterfly on a dead raccoon Butterfly and honey bee visiting wild hog dropping

36 Susan Willett Ripe fruit is visited and used for food by many brushfooted butterflies

37 Foods Used by Caterpillars: Leaves of their host plant

38 Resource used for promotion of butterfly gardening in Colorado since the mid 1980s

39 Black Swallowtail butterfly Parsleyworm

40 Twotailed Swallowtail Papilio multicaudata

41 Twotailed Swallowtail Eggs are laid on ash, chokecherry, hoptree Hosts of the related western tiger swallowtail include chokecherry, ash, aspen, and willow

42 Twotailed swallowtail caterpillar everting osmeteria (repellent scent glands) Late stage caterpillars have a different appearance

43 Monarch Danaus plexippus

44 Good milkweed hosts of monarch caterpillars Asclepias tuberosa Asclepias incarnata Photos courtesy of Monarch Watch

45 Asclepias syrica Asclepias currasavica Monarch Watch Missouri Botanical Garden

46 Colorado is at the edge of where the Monarch butterfly ranges in summer

47 Painted Lady An annual migrant that originates from areas of NW Mexico Larval host plants are thistles, hollyhock, mallow, occasionally legumes and some other plants

48 Variegated fritillary Photo courtesy of Johnny N. Dell Larval host plants are pansies, purslane, some Passiflora, some Sedum, others Photo courtesy of Jerry Payne

49 The Arizona sister (above) develops on oak The common buckeye (left) develops on snapdragons, toadflax, plantain and other plants

50 Melissa blue develops on various legumes Ruddy copper develops on dock and other plants in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceaeae) Photographs by Robert Hammon

51 Butterfly Houses Do they provide benefits to butterflies?

52 Butterfly Houses Do they provide benefits to butterflies? Very dubious value. Can t hurt, but probably won t help

53 European paper wasp Polistes dominula European paper wasp was first found in eastern Colorado in 2001

54 Paper wasps feed their young freshly killed insects (mostly caterpillars) that they capture and chew

55 Impacts on yard/garden Lepidoptera

56 Common garden caterpillars, such as the cabbageworm and tomato hornworm, are well controlled by paper wasps

57 The European paper wasp has also impacted butterfly gardening

58 Gardening for Hummingbird Moths

59 Hummingbird Moth A type of sphinx/hawk moth that flies during the day

60 Hornworms, Sphinx Moths (and Hummingbird Moths) Lepidoptera: Sphingidae

61 Hornworms are large caterpillars. Most have a horn on the end of the body. Two species can be damaging pests of tomatoes the tomato hornworm and the tobacco hornworm

62 Caterpillars of the tomato hornworm and tobacco hornworm feed on leaves on tomato and other nightshade family plants

63 Hornworms turn into Sphinx moths.

64 Conflict? You like this...but not this.

65 Colorado has about two dozen kinds of hornworms. Most hornworms are not pest insects

66 Hummingbird Moth A type of sphinx/hawk moth that flies during the day

67 Most sphinx moths fly only at night and thus are not hummingbird moths This includes the two species that damage garden crops

68 Whitelined sphinx Hyles lineata The most common hummingbird moth of the western US

69 Whitelined Sphinx hummingbird moth of the West

70 Hummingbird clearwing sphinx Hemaris thysbe Bumble Bee Clearwing Sphinx Moths Snowberry clearwing Hemeris diffinis

71 Some plants most often visited by hummingbird moths include: Four o clocks Evening primrose Larkspur Gentian Nasturtium Catmint Datura Wild bergamot Many Agastache spp. Honeysuckle

72 Landscaping for Biological Control Agents

73 Principles of Gardening for Natural Enemy/Bio-Control Insects Learn to recognize them and don t kill them Provide for food needs of adults Provide for food needs of immature stages Provide nest sites, if required

74 Principles of Gardening for Natural Enemies of Insect Pests Learn to recognize them and don t kill them Provide for food needs of adults Provide for food needs of immature stages Provide nest sites, if required

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76 Adults Eggs Lady Beetle Life Stages Pupae

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78 Lady beetles lay masses of eggs near sources of food for their young

79 Lady beetle larvae

80 Principles of Gardening for Natural Enemies of Insect Pests Learn to recognize them and don t kill them Provide for food needs of adults Provide for food needs of immature stages Provide nest sites, if required

81 Lady beetles ( Lady bugs, Lady birds.)

82 Lady beetle adults feed on nectar and pollen

83 Green Lacewings Neuroptera: Chrysopidae

84 Photograph courtesy of Brian Valentine

85 Adult green lacewings maintain themselves on nectar and pollen

86 Flower (Syrphid) Flies

87 Flower fly larvae Brian Valentine Brian Valentine Ken Gray

88 Insect Mimicry in Action!

89 Photograph courtesy Brian Valentine

90 Syrphid flies are excellent mimics of bees and wasps Honey Bees Flower (Syrphid) Flies

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92 Flower/Syrphid Fly Honey Bee

93 Adult flower flies sustain themselves on nectar and pollen

94 Adults of many predators use flowers (nectar, pollen) for sustenance

95 Parasitoid wasps maintain themselves on nectar and pollen

96 Larvae develop within and kill other insects Tachinid fly adults sustain themselves on nectar and pollen

97 Small, accessible flowers are most commonly used by natural enemies of garden pest insects

98 Some plants useful for providing food for adult stages of insect natural enemies Most Apiaceae - (dill, fennel, coriander, rue, etc.) Yarrow (some) Many sedums Spurges Sweet alyssum Basket-of-gold Thyme, several herbs

99 My favorite plant for insect action Mooncarrot Seseli gummiferum

100 Sesali alatum is also used extensively by many natural enemy species, as well as solitary bees

101 Japanese Beetle Popillia japonica

102 Should we now consider trying to introduce natural enemies of Japanese beetle into Colorado? Yes!

103 Natural Enemies of Japanese Beetle Exist Elsewhere in the US Paenibacillus popilliae (Milky spore) Bacterium Istocheta aldrichi Tachinid fly Tiphia species Parasitic wasps Ovavesicula popilliae Microsporidium

104 Natural Enemies of Japanese Beetle for Potential Introduction into Colorado? Istocheta aldrichi tachinid fly parasitoid of Japanese beetle adults

105 Natural Enemies of Japanese Beetle for Potential Introduction into Colorado? Tiphia popilliavora a parasitoid wasp that attacks Japanese beetle grubs

106 Tiphia popilliavora requires accessible nectar/pollen resources when the adults are active late April-May

107 Istocheta aldrichii requires accessible nectar/pollen resources when the adults are active late June-July

108 An excellent publication by the Xerces Society on improving habitat for natural enemies of insect pests

109 Landscaping and Pollinators

110 Bees Flies Primary Groups of Flower Visitors and Pollinators Beetles Butterflies and Moths

111 Bees (946 CO species) Rear young on nectar an pollen Often seen carrying pollen on their body Have a hairy body Some produce wax Capable of stinging Social bees have painful sting Solitary bees have mild sting

112 Gardeners can help various species of bees by expanded use of high value flowering plants

113 Honey Bee Apis mellifera

114 Gardening for Honey Bees or Not

115 Honey bees and most bees collect nectar as their primary energy source.

116 Honey bees and most bees use pollen as their primary source for proteins, fats and most other nutrients Pollen carried in pollen sac on hind legs

117 Principles of Gardening for Bees Provision of high quality sources of nectar Provision of high quality sources of pollen Provision of nesting sites

118 Principles of Gardening for Bees Provision of high quality sources of nectar Provision of high quality sources of pollen Provision of nesting sites

119 Top Ornamental Plants Visited by Honey Bees in CO include: Blue mist spirea Cleome (bee plant) Agastache foeniculum Penstemon eatonii Ocimum (basil) Nepeta Salvia Linden Aster novae-angliae Sedum spectabile Cotoneaster Allium tangitucum

120 Salvia nemorosum Catmint My top three ornamental plants for providing consistent sources of nectar and/or pollen New England Aster

121 Over 1200 plants were looked at during , most multiple times, to assess their use by various bees: Bumble bees Various solitary bees (leafcutter bees, sweat bees, andrenid bees) Honey bees

122 Catmint Nepeta x. faassenii Provides consistent flowers used as nectar source from mid/late May through mid-august

123 Salvia Black and Bloom July-August resource plant by honey bees

124 Principles of Gardening for Bees Provision of high quality sources of nectar Sources need to be available throughout the growing season! Provision of high quality sources of pollen Sources need to be available throughout the growing season! Provision of nesting sites

125 Some important pollinator resource plants early in the season Dandelion Perennial or winter annual brassicas Early flowering Prunus spp.

126 Some early season, predominantly trees and shrubs can be very important early season pollen sources for honey bees Salix spp. (willow) Alnus spp. (alder) Acer spp. (maple, boxelder)

127 Several very early flowering bulbs in Iridaceae, Amaryllidaceae and Liliaceae were important early season pollen sources.

128 Maples are an exceptionally important early season source of pollen

129 Rubber Rabbitbrush Thymus coccineum Some plants heavily visited plants by honey bees late in the season Blue Mist Spirea Monarda

130 Lawns can be an important resource site from many pollinating insects!

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132 >50 total species collected

133 Some discretion can be important when siting plants highly favored by honey bees

134 To the right: Caryopteris x candonensis To the left: Sedum spectabile

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136 Plants not favored by honey bees include: Doubled flower cultivars Flowers with long corollas Many common bedding plants Viola Phlox Vinca Petunia

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138 Bumble Bees Bombus species

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140 FROM: Bumble Bee Life History

141 Providing nesting sites for bumble bees?

142 Various plans exist to construct bumble bee nests

143 Bumble bee colonies are sold for the pollination of certain crops

144 Some plants (e.g. the tomato) are dependent on buzz pollination

145 Providing nesting sites for bumble bees?

146 Most Penstemons Agastache rupestris Campanula Plants heavily visited by bumble bees include: Echinacea Echinops Russian sage Hypericum frondosum Cleome Caragana Foxgloves

147 Cultivar differences can be great, depending on features such as flower color Highly favored by bumble bees and painted lady butterflies Kudos Silver Blue

148 Cultivar differences can be great, depending on features such as flower color Favored but less visited Rosie Posie Very little visitation Kudo s Gold Little visited Kudo s Ambrosia

149 The greatest number of kinds of bees are solitary bees

150 Solitary Bee Life Stages

151 Examples of some plants that had highest noted bee visitation in 2015 Lobularia Yolo White A high ranked plant for use by solitary bees

152 Examples of some plants that had highest noted bee visitation in 2015 Veronica Vernique Blue A plant highly ranked for use by honey bees and solitary bees

153 Examples of some plants that had highest noted bee visitation in 2015 Hypnotica Yellow Improved Dahlia Included several cultivars highly ranked for use by honey bees and solitary bees Dahlightful Georgia Peach

154 Most solitary bees are ground nesters

155 Some ground nesting bees nest in open sites of bare ground Some ground nesting bees nest in a patch of soil near the base of a plant.

156 Digger Bees

157 Favorable digger bee nesting site

158 Andrenidae Mining Bees

159 Andrenid bee nest site

160 Sweat Bees

161 Halictid bee nest sites in backyard patio area

162 Some ground nesting bees nest in open sites of bare ground Some ground nesting bees nest in a patch of soil near the base of a plant. Very few if any will nest in a site that has a thick mulch layer

163 Very few ground nesting solitary bees will be able to establish nests at sites with heavy mulch

164 Other bees use aboveground cavities for nest sites

165 Family Megachilidae Leafcutter, mason, carder bees

166 Leafcutter bee working sweet pea flower. Note how the anthers become exposed as the bee pushes the flower while nectaring

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168 Leafcutter bee collecting pollen

169 All members of the family Megachilidae (leafcutter, mason, carder bees) carry pollen on the underside of the abdomen

170 Leafcutter Bees

171 Nest cells in pith of rose cane Pith Nesting by Leafcutter Bees Photograph courtesy of David Shetlar, Ohio State University Nest cells with pollen in stem of weed

172 Leafcutter bee nest sites Soft, rotting wood is often excavated for nest sites

173 Leafcutter bee excavation in rotten garden timber

174 Leafcutter bees cut fragments from the edges of leaves that are suitable for nest building

175 Rose, lilac and Virginia creeper are among the plants most favored by leafcutter bees for nest materials

176 Leafcutter bee carrying leaf fragment

177 Leafcutter bee returning with leaf fragment

178 Cut leaves are used for nest construction All leaf fragments are oriented with the smooth side inwards

179 For nest construction: 3-4 rectangular pieces, crimped for the base Oval pieces along the sides of the cell

180 Leafcutter bees collect pollen and nectar, carry it to the nest site, and use it to fill a leaf-lined nest cell.

181 For nest construction: 3-4 rectangular pieces, crimped for the base Oval pieces along the sides of the cell Nearly perfect circles used to cap the cell

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183 Nesting sites for leafcutter bees

184 Mason Bees (Osmia species)

185 Predrilled wood for nesting by mason bees

186 Nest cells produced by mason bees in hollowed plant stems

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188 Nesting habitat may be limiting activity of many native bees (leafcutter bees, mason bees)

189 A variety of hole sizes can be used to attract a variety of species

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191 Carder Bees Anthidium spp. An example of a solitary bee that uses plant hairs to construct nest cells

192 Nests are made in existing cavities. The nest tunnels are lined with plant hairs.

193 Source: The Bee s Needs, University of Colorado Nests are made in existing cavities. The nest tunnels are lined with plant hairs.

194 Male wool carder bees patrol and defend territories

195 Male carder bees will attack and can kill intruders including honey bees

196 Excellent publication on the subject of North American bees!

197 An outstanding and free publiccation from Utah State University

198 Two new CSU publications on the subject of improving habitat for pollinators

199 Excellent publication on how to improve habitat for native pollinators

200 Japanese Beetle Popillia japonica

201 Locust Borer and Purple Robe Locust

202 Locust Borer Megacyllene robiniae

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204 Japanese beetle adults chew on leaves and flowers of many plants Japanese beetle damages plants in two distinct ways

205 Flowers are often a favored plant part targeted by adult Japanese beetles

206 Japanese beetle larvae (grubs) among the most damaging turfgrass insects in the US Japanese beetle affects yard/garden plants in two distinct ways

207 White grubs prune the roots, producing drought stress symptoms

208 Japanese beetle is established in two main areas of the state, and is steadily expanding its range

209 Adult beetles feed on both flowers and leaves of many ornamental plants as well as garden vegetables and herbs

210 Skeletonizing injuries produced by Japanese beetle adults feeding on leaves

211 Flowers are often a favored plant part targeted by adult Japanese beetles

212 Overlap of adult feeding on flowers and use of those flowers by pollinators Issue of unusual concern with Japanese beetle

213 Uber-host Plants Favored by Japanese Beetle Adults in CO Roses** Linden* Virginia Creeper* Silver lace**

214 Other Plants Commonly Grown in CO that are Highly Favored by Japanese Beetle Ornamentals Hollyhock* Gaura** Rose-of-Sharon** Crabapple Japanese maple Peking cotoneaster Food Crops Beans (green, edamame) Basil Raspberry* Grape * JB populations overlap with flowering ** JB populations overlap >alot< with flowering

215 Evaluations of roses at the War Memorial Garden in Littleton,

216 Japanese Beetle Damage Evaluations on Roses War Memorial Rose Garden Seven observations were made during season Damage by Japanese beetle ranked on a 0 to 3 scale (no damage to heavy damage)

217 Japanese Beetle Damage Evaluations on Roses War Memorial Rose Garden Seven observations were made during season Damage by Japanese beetle ranked on a 0 to 3 scale (no damage to heavy damage) Observed flower visitation by bees ranked on a 0 to 3 scale (no visitation to high visitation)

218 Roses that Were Not Observed Damaged by Japanese Beetle Child s Play Cupcake Gemini Old Glory Rainbow Sorbet Angel Face Class Act Electron Jean Kenneally Perfecta Shining Hour Carrot Top Colossus French Lace Joseph s Coat Picotee Sun Sprinkles Merlot

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221 Cultivars bees do not visit insecticid e options are much greater Cultivars that will be difficult to maintain in a post-jb world Cultivars that JB doesn t damage in the first place

222 Roses that are Heavily Damaged by JB and Visited alot by Pollinators Prima Donna Carefree Delight Carefree Spirit Climbing New Dawn Day Dream Easy Does It Elle Eureka First Edition Fourth of July Glowing Peace Honey Perfume Hot Coco Lady Elsie May Moon Dance Morden Sunrise Pescali Rainbow Knock Out Starry Night Touch of Class

223 Bottom Line There are many desirable insects that can be encouraged by appropriate plant selections Specific plants need to be identified that are used by specific insects There are some plants that develop significant pressure from insect pests These plants may need to be suspended from promotion, at least temporarily

224 This presentation will be posted at the Insect Information Website Housed at Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management Search BSPM CSU Within Outreach Insect Information Extension presentations for 2018 posted at bottom of page

225 Bottom of the page Top of the page

226 Hot off the presses!

227 Garden Insects of North America, 2 nd Edition Complete revision of original Co-authored (with David Shetlar, Ohio State University) Contains over 3100 photos, most all new Retail price $35

228 New(ish) online course Horticultural Entomology (BSPM356) Made of three, 1-credit sections Introduction to Horticultural Entomology (required or equivalent) Horticultural Entomology: Food Crops Horticultural Entomology: Landscape Plants Taught in Spring and Fall Semesters

229 This presentation will be posted at the Insect Information web site Housed at Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management Search BSPM CSU Within Extension and Outreach Insect Information Extension presentations are posted at bottom of page