Beauty with Benefits Naturescaping Vineyards for Biological Control of Pests and Pollinator Conservation David G James, Washington State University

The opportunity now exists to link viticultural pest management with nature, wildlife and pollinator conservation

Washington viticulture is low-input and sustainable and sustainable Conservation biological control & ‘soft’ pesticides are key features of IPM

Before vineyards, the hills and valleys of eastern and valleys of eastern Washington were alive Washington were alive with native flora with native flora and pollinators and pollinators

Pollinator populations have suffered as habitats and native flora have been displaced…

Mylitta Crescent

Sagebrush Checkerspot

Boisduval’s Blues

The Monarch

Habitat Restoration for Vineyards using native plants 1.REFUGIA: to bring biocontrol agents (ie beneficials) closer to the grapevines grapevines 2. GROUND COVERS: to provide in-crop re-fueling zone for beneficials/pollinators zone for beneficials/pollinators

Native plants are hardy and climate adapted. They do not need special attention and survive on minimal nutrient and water resources

They are ‘home’ and provide food to all the provide food to all the natural enemies of grape natural enemies of grape pests that we rely on for pests that we rely on for biological control biological control Many serve as host and/or nectar plants for butterflies and other pollinators

But which local native plants are ‘best’ in terms of ‘pulling’ and retaining beneficial insects ? beneficial insects ? Information was not available

Beneficial Insects for Vineyards * Lacewings *Ladybeetles * Predatory Bugs *Beneficial Flies *Predatory Thrips *Parasitic Wasps *Native Bees

*~ 120 species of flowering plants *9-24 traps for each species/season *Total of > 3000 traps/season

“THE TOP TEN” “The bottom ten” Carey’s balsamroot Blazing star Prairie clover Grays desert parsley TriteleiaDandelion Gold stars Large-fruited desert parsley Hairy balsamroot Giant-head clover

1. Sagebrush 2. Spreading Dogbane 3. Slender Hawksbeard 4. Sunflower 5. Oregon Sunshine 6. Yarrow 7. Gray Rabbitbrush 8. Goldenrod 9. Pearly Everlasting 10. Ocean Spray 11. Green Rabbitbrush 12. Tall Buckwheat 13. Narrow-leaved Milkweed 14. Threadleaf fleabane 15. Northern Buckwheat 16. Wyeths Lupine 17. Western Clematis 18. Showy Milkweed 19. Mock Orange 20. Shaggy Daisy 21. Russian Olive 22. Coyote Willow 23. Whitestem Frasera 24. Parsnip Buckwheat 25. Western Hyssop 26. Coyote Mint 27. Blue Elderberry 28. Alfalfa 29. Strict Buckwheat 30. Blanket Flower 31. Columbia Cutleaf 32. Snow Buckwheat 33. Dusty Maidens 34. Western Wallflower 35. Silverleaf Phacelia 36. Chokecherry

Attracts the greatest number of beneficials (in terms of numbers of individuals) However, only 5 of the 10 groups of beneficials represented in large numbers (parasitic wasps and predatory bugs) #1 Big Sagebrush Fall flowering Refugia plant

Rabbitbrush Attracts large numbers of beneficial insects important autumn nectar source for butterflies and larval host for sagebrush checkerspot and larval host for sagebrush checkerspot Plants with benefits for biological control agents and butterflies

Buckwheats Attract large numbers of beneficial insects 10 species: Spring-summer-flowering

Buckwheats are caterpillar hosts for a dozen or more species of blues, coppers and hairstreaks in Washington Blue Copper Lycaena heteronea

Milkweeds (2 species) Attract large numbers of beneficial insects Many butterflies use it as nectar source Monarch host

Milkweed in a WSU vineyard at Prosser hosting caterpillars of the Monarch (June 2014)

Lupines Attractive to beneficials Larval host for at least 3 species of butterflies

Willows Attract many beneficial insects Larval host to four butterflies Viceroy LorquinsAdmiral TigerSwallowtail Mourning Cloak

Twelve of the top 20 ranked plants for beneficial insect attraction are also host plants for ~ 16 butterfly species Eighteen of the 20 are important nectar providers for butterflies

A great opportunity exists to combine vineyard habitat restoration for pest control with habitat restoration for pest control with butterfly conservation! Ruddy Copper Lycaena rubidus

Comparing Native Habitat-Enhanced and Conventional Vineyards Pest and beneficial insect and mite fauna and butterflies evaluated and monitored

8 cooperating commercial vineyards *4 Habitat-Enhanced *4 Conventional Quincy Columbia Gorge Red Mountain Walla Walla

Habitat-Enhanced: Habitat-Enhanced: flowering native plant species in or close to vineyard (< 50m)

Conventional: <10 flowering native plant species near (< 50m) vineyard

ALL BENEFICIAL INSECTS (2013) 2013

All Pests Conventional Habitat-enhanced 2013

Habitat-Enhanced Vineyard: Habitat-Enhanced Vineyard: 9 butterfly species seen 2011

Conventional Vineyard; Conventional Vineyard; 1 butterfly species seen 2011

Number of butterfly species seen in habitat-enhanced and conventional vineyards

Mean number of butterfly species seen in habitat-enhanced and conventional vineyards in Columbia Gorge and Walla Walla

Mean number of individual butterflies seen in Gorge and Walla vineyards during 0.5 hr visits in during 0.5 hr visits in

Numbers of butterflies greater in vineyards that have been restoring habitat for at least 5-8 yrs

There are > 50 butterfly species that could be encouraged to occupy Washington vineyards with cultivation of host plants We’ve already seen half of these in the habitat-enhanced vineyards we monitor

Stinging Nettle: Good for parasitic wasps, flies and predatory bugs Also hosts 5 butterflies In Washington…….

Pest Management and Nature Conservation will increasingly be entwined as pesticide inputs decrease and the need for species conservation increases

Incarcerated Citizen Science at Walla Walla Penitentiary: Mass rearing endemic butterfly species in eastern Washington for introduction to habitat-enhanced vineyards

Butterflies could become a symbol of the Washington wine industry’s Commitment to sustainability and local biodiversity FACEBOOK: Vineyard Beauty with Benefits

GreatMarketing Potential !