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

University of Arkansas Rice Research & Extension Center
Stuttgart, AR
Thursday, November 8th, 2018
9:00 am - 4:00 pm

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

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 Thelma Heidel-Baker, Conservation Biocontrol Specialist at the Xerces Society, as she 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*

• Pesticide Applicator (**pending approval**)
• 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

 Module 2 -  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 3 - Robert Wiedenmann: 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

Lunch Break - Lunch will be catered by the University of Arkansas.  Please bring a refillable water bottle with you to the course.

Guest Speaker - USDA Practices and Programs for Beneficial Insect Conservation

Module 4 - 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)

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 Activities and Presentations

• Scouting and identification of beneficial insects
• Habitat assessment for beneficial insects

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

INSTRUCTOR

Thelma Heidel-Baker – Conservation Biocontrol Specialist, The Xerces Society  
Thelma Heidel-Baker is the conservation biological control specialist for the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. In this position, she provides technical support and expertise on developing best management practices and creating habitat for conserving benficial insects in farming landscapes across the U.S.  Thelma has over 15 years of extensive research experience in biological control and integrated pest managment (IPM) in agricultural cropping systems.  She holds graduate degrees in entomology, specializing in biological control, from Purdue University and the University of Minnesota.  Based out of southeastern Wisconsin, she also actively incoporporates insect conservation practices into her family's organic dairy farm.

GUEST SPEAKER

Robert Wiedenmann - Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas
Dr. Rob Wiedenmann is a Professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Arkansas, where he has been since 2005.  He received both a B.S. in Ecology and Ph.D. in Entomology from Purdue University.  His specialty is biological control of insects and weeds.