Farming With Beneficial Insects
for Pest Control:
Conservation Biological Control Short Course

National Butterfly Center
Mission, TX
Wednesday, September 26th, 2018
9:00 am - 4:00 pm

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

Register Now!

Learn about supporting beneficial insects that provide pest control in this full-day short course. 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 pesticides. Join Ray Moranz, Grazing Lands Pollinator Ecologist and NRCS Partner Biologist at the Xerces Society, as he overviews conservation biological control and beneficial predators and parasitoids that attack insect pests. Participants will learn how common farm practices can impact beneficial insects and how to assess and create farm habitat for beneficial insects.

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).
• Become familiar with the most common beneficial insect groups.
• 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 (5.5 CEUs) 
• Society of American Foresters (5 CFE credits)
• The Wildlife Society (5.5 contact hours)   

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
• Case studies of conservation biocontrol in action

 Module 2 -  Farm Practices for Beneficial Insects

• Supporting beneficial insects with farm practices
• 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 3 - Common Beneficial Insect Groups

• Introduction to beneficial insects and the ecological services they provide
• Summary of beneficial insect biology and habitat needs

Guest Speaker - Russell Castro, State Biologist, NRCS Texas

• USDA Practices and Programs for Beneficial Insect Conservation
  

Lunch - Please bring a sack lunch and a refillable water bottle! 

Module 4 - Assessing Baseline Farm Conditions for Beneficial Insects

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

Module 5 - 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)

Field Exercise

• Using the Beneficial Insect Habitat Assessment Form and Guide
• Overview of Beneficial Insect Monitoring Guide

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

INSTRUCTORS

Ray Moranz - Grazing Lands Pollinator Ecologist, The Xerces Society
Dr. Ray Moranz is the Grazing Lands Pollinator Ecologist for the Xerces Society. Ray also serves as a Partner Biologist for the USDA NRCS, and is based at the NRCS Field Office in Stillwater, OK. His current focus is assisting the NRCS with planning and implementation of monarch butterfly conservation efforts in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.  Ray began studying the effects of fire and grazing on plant and butterfly communities in 2004, and earned his Ph.D. in Natural Resource Ecology and Management from Oklahoma State University in 2010. Prior to joining the Xerces Society, he worked for The Nature Conservancy in Florida, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in California, Iowa State University, and Oklahoma State University.

GUEST SPEAKERS

Russell Castro - State Biologist, NRCS Texas

Register Now!