Farming with Beneficial Insects:
Conservation Biological Control
Short Course

County of Monterey Agricultural Center
Large Conference Room
1428 Abbott Street. 
Salinas, CA

Wednesday, August 31st 2016
9:00 am - 4:00 pm

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).
• The most common beneficial insect groups and their ecological roles.
• 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) 
• Pest Control Advisors (PCA) (6 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, meadows, and more)
• Habitat conservation methods (e.g. site preparation, propagation, and maintenance)
• Farm case studies 

LUNCH - bring a sack lunch!

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

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 - USDA Practices and Programs for Beneficial Insect Conservation

• Overview of USDA-NRCS conservation practices for beneficial insects
• Overview of USDA-NRCS incentives programs for beneficial insects

Module 7 – Q&A, Additional Resources, and Course Evaluations

 

INSTRUCTORS

Jessa Kay Cruz - California Senior Pollinator Conservation Specialist, The Xerces Society 
Since joining Xerces in 2008, Jessa has worked on agricultural lands throughout the state of California to create habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects, and to promote practices that support them. She provides education and technical support to a range of individuals and agencies, including farmers and ranchers, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, agricultural professionals, and land managers. Jessa holds a Master’s of Science in Environmental Entomology from California State University, Chico and a Bachelor’s Degree in Sustainable Farming from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. Her Master’s thesis involved developing the management of the native bee, Osmia lignaria, for almond pollination.

Thelma Heidel-Baker - Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Specialist, The Xerces Society
Thelma has extensive experience working on biological control and IPM in agricultural cropping systems. Thelma provides nationwide support to farmers, agencies, and Xerces staff for developing pest management programs with reduced risks to beneficial insects. She also develops related technical materials used by farmers, crop consultants, and university extension on conserving beneficial insects in pest management.  Prior to Xerces, Thelma worked with university extension coordinating outreach efforts for insect pest IPM in Iowa field crops. Thelma received her Ph.D. in entomology from the University of Minnesota where she conducted research on incorporating biological control into soybean aphid IPM. She currently lives on her family’s organic dairy farm in eastern Wisconsin.

Hillary Sardiñas, PhD,  - Pacific Coast Pollinator Conservation Specialist, The Xerces Society
Hillary is a naturalist and pollination ecologist working with farmers to create pollinator habitat in the Pacific Northwest and California. Hillary also conducts education and outreach events throughout the West Coast. Hillary holds a doctorate in Environmental Science, Policy and Management from the University of California, Berkeley, where she studied the ability of on-farm habitat enhancements to bolster pollinator populations and crop pollination.

 GUEST SPEAKERS

TBA

 

 

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