Conservation Biological Control
Short Course

University of RHODE ISLAND EAST FARM
Kingston, Rhode Island
Wednesday, September 9th, 2015
9:00 am - 4:30 pm EST

Learn how to attract beneficial insects to farms and orchards
for natural pest control!

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.

Continuing Education Credits available:
5.0 Recertification Credits, Research & Demonstration Pest Control
5.0 Hours Category 2 CFE Credit, Society of American Foresters 
5.5 Certified Crop Adviser Hours, American Society of Agronomy

Short Course Training Skills & Objectives

• 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 Xerces' book, Farming with Native Beneficial Insects, as well as habitat installation guidelines and other relevant publications.

Course Agenda

Welcome

Module 1 – Farming with Beneficial Insects: Conservation Biological Control

• Overview of conservation biological control and IPM
• Conservation status of beneficial insects
• Case studies of conservation biocontrol in action

Module 2 – Common Beneficial Insect Groups

• Introduction to common beneficial insect groups
• Overview of beneficial insect biology and identification

Module 3 – Farm Practices for Beneficial Insects

• Farm practices to support beneficial insects
• Mitigating pesticide risks to beneficial insects
• Protecting overwintering and nesting sites

Break

• Landscape-level impacts on conservation biological control

Module 4 – Assessing Baseline Farm Conditions for Beneficial Insects

• Introduction to the Beneficial Insect Habitat Assessment Guide to inform CBC planning

Lunch – Bring a sack lunch!

Field Tour 

• Using the Beneficial Insect Habitat Assessment Form and Guide 
• Field observation of beneficial insects and plants  

Module 5 – Designing and Restoring Habitat for Beneficial Insects

• Strategies for incorporating habitat on farms
• Site preparation and planting techniques for native wildflowers and woody plants
• Farm case study

GUEST SPEAKER – Gary Casabona, State Biologist, NRCS

• USDA programs and practices for pollinator & beneficial insect conservation

• Additional Resources
• Questions
• Evaluations
• Raffle

INSTRUCTORS

Kelly Gill – Pollinator Conservation Specialist, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, The Xerces Society
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 recently 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.

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.

About The Xerces Society

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is an international nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitat. The Society's Pollinator Conservation Program was launched in 1996, and works with leading native pollinator ecologists to translate the latest research findings into on-the-ground conservation. More information about the Xerces Society is available at www.xerces.org.