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Michigan Technical Note USDA-Natural Resources Michigan Technical Note USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service BIOLOGY TECH NOTE #18 Attracting Beneficial Insects with Native Flowering Plants Date: December 2012 GENERAL INFORMATION Following for your use and distribution is a technical note, Attracting Beneficial Insects with Native Flowering Plants. This is Michigan State University Extension Bulleting E2973, revised January, 2008, authored by Anna Fielder, Julianna Tuell, Rufus Isaacs, and Doug Landis and is used by permission of the authors. Biology #18 NRCS, Michigan TGN 251 December 2012 Extension Bulletin E-2973 • Revised • January 2008 Attracting Beneficial Insects NATURAL ENEMIES POLLINATORS with Native Flowering Plants ome insects eat other insects and can provide natural pest control on farms and in gardens. These natural ollinating insects play a J. Tuell J. Tuell Colletidae (cellophane bees, not Anna Fiedler, Julianna Tuell, Rufus Isaacs, and Doug Landis enemies can be divided into two groups — predators and parasitoids. Many predators and parasitoids are critical role in maintaining shown). Some of the more com- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University Sattracted to flowering plants, where they obtain pollen and nectar that help increase their life span and ability P productive natural plant mon species in these groups are to lay eggs. The table in this bulletin can be used to select plants that provide flowers for these insects through the communities, and they also polli- pictured here. growing season. nate most crop plants grown for Most bee species are solitary their fruits, vegetables, nuts, (each female produces offspring in Howard Russell Jim Kalisch & Tom Clark, University of Nebraska-Lincoln seeds, and fiber. Bees are excel- Predators eat many Parasitoids seek Honey bee Bumble bee her own nest), with only one gen- lent pollinators because they prey in a lifetime, feed- other insects as hosts J. Tuell J. Tuell eration of bees per year. However, spend most of their adult lives col- ing both as young and as in which to lay their some of the most abundant lecting pollen to feed to their adults, and include some eggs. Each egg hatches species, such as honey bees and developing offspring. The plumed bugs, beetles, flies, within the host, and bumble bees, are social, working hairs on their bodies attract pollen lacewings and spiders. the young feed and together to provision a single nest grains, and “brushes” on their legs All shown here eat develop within that in which a queen presides and pro- enable them to collect pollen and small, soft-bodied Minute pirate bug Braconid wasp single host, eventually duces multiple generations per carry it back to the nest. Flowers Carpenter bee insects and help control D. Landis Jim Kalisch & Tom Clark, University of Nebraska-Lincoln killing it. Parasitoids Andrenid bee year. Bees with multiple genera- provide energy in the form of nec- J. Tuell J. Tuell aphid, whitefly, and are most commonly tions per year need food resources tar, and many bees have long mealybug populations. small wasps. Hosts can (pollen and nectar) across most of tongues that allow them to reach Spiders will also eat be from almost any the growing season to build their into deep flowers that other larger insects. insect group, including colonies. Providing plants with insects cannot use. beetle larvae, cater- overlapping bloom periods in a pillars, flies, and other Five major bee families are found landscape will help these bees wasps. Lady beetle Ichneumonid wasp in the Midwest: Apidae (honey Sweat bee, brown Sweat bee, green survive and prosper. The table in bees, bumble bees, carpenter bees, S. Bambara, N. Carolina State Univ. J. Tuell this bulletin can be used to select A. Fiedler Gerald J. Lenhard For more information and a diverse group of solitary plants that will provide flowers on natural enemies, soil-nesting bees), Andrenidae through the growing season. please see the Other (andrenid bees), Halictidae For more information on Resources section on (sweat bees), Megachilidae pollinators, please see the page 5. (leafcutter and mason bees), and Other Resources section below. Mason bee Leafcutter bee Syrphid fly Chalcid wasp David Keith, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Other Resources Enhancing Beneficial Insects with Native Plants Web site: Gardiner, M., C. DiFonzo, M. Brewer and T. Noma. 2006. www.nativeplants.msu.edu Identifying Natural Enemies in Crops and Landscapes. Extension Flint, M.L., and S.H. Dreistadt. 1998. Natural Enemies bulletin E-2949. East Lansing, Mich.: Michigan State Handbook: the Illustrated Guide to Biological Pest Control. University. Publication 3386. Berkely, CA: University of California Press, Shepherd, M., S.L. Buchmann, M. Vaughan and S.H. Black. Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. 2003. Pollinator Conservation Handbook. Portland, Ore.: The Xerces Society. Crab spider 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Introduction Establishing native plants Natural Common name Scientific name enemies Bees MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER Conservation of natural enemies of insects (predators and Local sources of native seed and potted plant material parasitoids) and pollinators (bees) around the farm or are available for Michigan and many other areas. Where 1. wild strawberry Fragaria virginiana garden can help suppress pests and increase crop yields. possible, use local genotypes — i.e., plant material origi- 2. golden Alexanders Zizia aurea Many beneficial insects rely on plants for nectar and nally collected in your area and best adapted for your Anemone canadensis pollen or shelter. Plants commonly recommended to conditions. 3. Canada anemone Native Flowering Plants that Attract provide these resources are non-native annuals such as 4. penstemon/hairy beardtongue Penstemon hirsutus Determine where you would like to establish native buckwheat, sweet alyssum, faba bean, dill, and coriander. Beneficial Insects plants. If it is a large area (greater than 500 square feet), 5. angelica Angelica atropurpurea In a recent Michigan State University study, we found consider using seed to establish plants, which will flower that native Midwestern perennial plants could provide 6. cow parsnip Heracleum maximum in 3 to 5 years. If a smaller area, rooted seedlings sold in similar, and in some cases, more attractive resources. 7. sand coreopsis/lanceleaf tickseed Coreopsis lanceolata The bloom periods shown plugs or pots will flower in 1 to 2 years and will allow for the native perennials We selected 46 native Michigan plants on the basis of you to choose the position of each plant. 8. shrubby cinquefoil Potentilla fruticosa are for 2-year-old plants their bloom periods and ability to survive in agricultural growing in full sun in 2005 Consult a local native plant producer for seed mixes or 9. Indian hemp Apocynum cannabinum habitats. All of the species selected historically grew in in Ingham County, plants most appropriate for your light, soil type, and Michigan. Bloom times will prairie or oak savanna habitats. Once common in 10. late figwort Scrophularia marilandica moisture conditions, as well as for proper plant spacing. vary between years and Michigan, prairies and oak savannas are now rare, as are 11. swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata locations. All plants are many of the plants and animals that formerly utilized Site preparation to minimize weeds is crucial to project native to the north central these habitats. By returning these plants to Michigan success. Depending on the history of your site, plan on 12. Culver’s root Veronicastrum virginicum United States; many are native to the eastern United 3 months to 2 years for proper preparation. Professional landscapes, we may be able to increase both pollination 13. yellow coneflower Ratibida pinnata States. Check with local and pest control while enhancing native biodiversity. plant and seeding installation services are available. If resources to determine if 14. nodding wild onion Allium cernuum you are seeding an area yourself, you can hand broadcast they are native to your area. Plant testing seed with good results. Seed drills require a good deal of 15. meadowsweet Spiraea alba time and seed to calibrate correctly, so they are most Native species were established as rooted plug or 1-quart 16. yellow giant hyssop Agastache nepetoides potted plants in the fall of 2003 and compared to the effectively used on areas larger than an acre. 17. horsemint/spotted beebalm Monarda punctata non-native annuals, which were planted as seed the fol- Please note: The information presented in this bulletin lowing spring. During the 2004 and 2005 growing sea- 18. Missouri ironweed Vernonia missurica should be considered a guideline to be adapted for your sons, we determined dates of peak bloom for each local conditions. MSU makes no warranty about the use 19. cup plant Silphium perfoliatum species and collected insects at flowers during peak of the information presented here. bloom. We then identified predator, parasitoid and polli- 20. pale Indian plantain Cacalia atriplicifolia nator insects collected at each plant species. For more information on our research into native plants, 21. boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum The table in this bulletin shows 26 native plants that can beneficial insects and pollinators, see 22. blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica provide flowers throughout the growing season and are www.nativeplants.msu.edu 23. pale-leaved sunflower Helianthus strumosus highly attractive to beneficial insects. 24. Riddell’s goldenrod Solidago riddellii Acknowledgements
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