Conservation Biological Control
Short Course

Bristol County Agricultural High School
Dighton, Massachusetts
Thursday, May 5, 2016
9:00 am - 4:30 pm EDT

Learn a science-based strategy that seeks to integrate beneficial insects for natural pest control!

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Beneficial insects contribute to natural pest suppression and potentially save $4.5 billion annually in pesticide costs. Yet the contribution of insects that prey upon or parasitize crop pests is largely overlooked. Conservation biological control is a science-based pest management strategy that seeks to integrate beneficial insects back into cropping systems for natural pest control, ultimately reducing and in some cases eliminating the need for insecticides. This strategy is based upon ongoing research that continues to demonstrate a link between the conservation of natural habitat and reduced pest problems on farms, orchards, and gardens.

In response to growing interest in promoting beneficial insects for their pest control services on farms, the Xerces Society has authored the book Farming With Native Beneficial Insects and developed the Conservation Biological Control Short Course to educate farmers, agriculture employees, natural resource specialists, land managers, and conservation organization staff.

SHORT COURSE TRAINING SKILLS AND OBJECTIVES

This workshop will cover: 

• The importance of beneficial insects - predators and parasitoids that attack insect pests.
• Overview of conservation biological control and integrated pest management (IPM).
• How to identify beneficial insects and distinguish them from other insects.
• How to recognize the habitat needs of beneficial insects and identify habitat deficiencies.
• The design and implementation of habitat improvements, including site preparation, insectary strip plantings, hedgerows, beetle banks, and more.
• The current best management practices that minimize land-use impacts on beneficial insects and mitigate exposure to insecticides.
• How to access USDA conservation programs for financial and technical support.

Participants will receive the Xerces Society's Conservation Biological Control Toolkit which includes habitat installation guidelines and other relevant publications, and the Xerces' book, Farming with Native Beneficial Insects.

 *Continuing Education Credits Available*

• Certified Crop Advisor (6 CEUs) 
• Pesticide Applicator Continuing Education (PACE) (5 CEUs)

 

COURSE AGENDA

Welcome and Announcements 

Module 1 - Farming with Beneficial Insects: Conservation Biological Control (CBC)

• Overview of conservation biological control and integrated pest management
• Status of beneficial insect conservation
• Summary of conservation biocontrol case studies

Module 2 - Common Beneficial Insect Groups

• Introduction to beneficial insects and the ecological services they provide
• Overview of beneficial insect groups (predators and parasitoids)
• Summary of beneficial insect biology and habitat needs
• Profiles of common predators and parasitoids and the insect pests they attack

Break

Module 3 - Designing and Restoring Habitat for Beneficial Insects

• Conservation practices that support beneficial insects (e.g. beetle banks, buffers and windbreaks, cover crops, field borders, hedgerows, insectary strips, wildflower meadows, and more)
• Habitat conservation methods (e.g. site preparation, propagation, and maintenance)
• Farm case studies

Lunch - Optional catered lunch (additional $10, ordered in advance), or bring a sack lunch!  

Guest Speaker– Gary Casabona – State Biologist, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

• USDA Practices and Programs for Beneficial Insect Conservation

Module 4 -  Farm Practices for Beneficial Insects

• Supporting beneficial insects with farm practices
• Preventing potential negative impacts of conventional and organic-approved pesticides on beneficial 
  insects (e.g. exposure pathways, toxicity, residual activity)
• Mitigating pesticide risks to beneficial insects and other natural resources using IPM, PAMS, and 
  conservation practices (e.g. alternatives to pesticides, pesticide drift reduction, buffer practices)
• Protecting overwintering and nesting sites

Break

Module 5 - Assessing Baseline Farm Conditions for Beneficial Insects

• Overview of habitat diversity values
• Introduction to the Beneficial Insect Habitat Assessment Guide to Inform CBC Planning

Field Activity
Small groups rotate through the following activities:

• Practice using habitat assessment tool and form in the field
• Develop recommendations for habitat enhancements, IPM, management practices, etc. based on assessment results
• Scout different habitat types for beneficial insects
• Discuss beneficial insects and their habitat associations observed in real-life, field conditions

Module 6 – Q&A, additional resources, and course evaluations 
 

INSTRUCTORS

Kelly Gill – Xerces Society Pollinator Conservation Specialist, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
Kelly is the Pollinator Conservation Specialist, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Regions for The Xerces Society and a partner biologist with the USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Kelly’s position provides technical support for planning, installing, and managing habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects. A Pennsylvania native, Kelly completed her Master’s Degree in Entomology at Iowa State University. There, she conducted small plot and farm scale research, collaborating with organic and conventional farmers, on the development of best practices for conserving beneficial insects in agricultural landscapes.

Jarrod Fowler – Xerces Society Pollinator Conservation & Biocontrol Specialist, Northeast
Jarrod is the Pollinator Conservation and Conservation Biological Control Specialist for New England and Northeast Regions at The Xerces Society and a Technical Service Provider at USDA-NRCS. Jarrod's work is informed by over 15 years of horticulture and entomology practice and training in New England. He is proficient in science-based and sustainable insect habitat assessment, design, installation, maintenance, and monitoring. Jarrod is leading extensive pollinator habitat restoration efforts with fruit and vegetable growers in New England. Jarrod recently launched a new project with the New Hampshire Association of Conservation Districts and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to design and test habitat systems for beneficial insects on organic vegetable farms.

GUEST SPEAKER

Gary Casabona – State Biologist, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Gary Casabona holds a B.S. in Environmental Sciences from Rutgers University, and a M.S. in Wildlife Biology from Virginia Tech.  He worked for USDA-NRCS in New Jersey for 14 years before moving to Rhode Island in 2011 as the statewide wildlife biologist for NRCS.  Gary’s current activities include habitat projects for New England cottontail, native pollinators, scrub/shrub birds, wetland restoration, fish passage, and oyster restoration.

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