Ohio's Advantageous Insects: Key Biodiversity Contributors
In the world of hop farming, managing pests is a constant challenge. However, nature provides a solution in the form of beneficial predators. Some effective natural enemies for controlling pest populations in hop yards include predatory mites, minute pirate bugs (Orius insidiosus), and lacewings.
Predatory mites, small creatures ranging from 1/50 to 1/25 inch in size, are eight-legged hunters that feed on spider mites, aphids, and caterpillar eggs. Their rapid movement and colouration, which ranges from yellow to red, distinguishes them from spider mites. Lacewings, slightly larger at 3/5 to 9/10 inch, are another efficient and voracious predator. They can be monitored with yellow sticky card traps or by shaking hop bines over a large tray to collect their larvae, which are brown with long bodies and sickle-shaped mouthparts.
Minute pirate bugs, black with white and brown markings, are another valuable ally in the fight against pests. Adults are oval-shaped and approximately 1/5 inch long, while their nymphs are yellow-orange to brown in colour and teardrop-shaped. These insects are especially voracious, capable of eating 10-30 thrips per day and killing many more, making them valuable in contained environments like greenhouses or grow rooms.
Lady beetles, commonly known as ladybugs, are also beneficial. Adult 14-spotted lady beetles are round and 1/7 to 1/5 inch long, yellow with approximately 14 square-shaped spots. Lady beetle larvae are usually dark in colour with bright orange markings. However, it's important to note that growers should not purchase Hippodamia convergens lady beetles for release due to the risk of spreading diseases to native populations.
Encouraging these beneficial insects is essential for maintaining a balanced ecosystem in hop yards. Planting flowering plants near hop yards benefits these beneficial insects by providing pollen and nectar as alternative food sources when prey is scarce.
For purchasing these beneficial predators, many commercial suppliers offer predatory mites, minute pirate bugs, and lacewings. These suppliers typically specialize in biological pest control agents and provide both the predators and supplemental foods that help keep them active when pest populations decline. It's useful to procure such beneficial insects from specialized insectaries or companies dealing with greenhouse and agricultural biological controls.
In summary, predatory mites, minute pirate bugs, and lacewings are valuable allies in controlling pest populations in hop yards. By understanding their characteristics and how to encourage and purchase them, hop farmers can maintain a balanced ecosystem and reduce their reliance on chemical pesticides.
| Natural Enemy | Target Pests | Notes | |----------------------|------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------| | Predatory mites | Spider mites, other small pests | Widely used in biological control | | Minute pirate bugs | Thrips, aphids, spider mites | Voracious thrip predators; may bite humans | | Lacewings | Aphids, moth eggs, small insects | Effective generalist predators | | Ladybugs, wasps, spiders, birds | Various insects | Helpful in diverse environmental settings |
Predatory mites, with their efficient hunting of spider mites, aphids, and caterpillar eggs, are valuable additions in the conservation efforts of hop farming, contributing to a balanced health-and-wellness of the ecosystem. By supplementing their diet with foods from specialized suppliers, these beneficial predators can remain active during periods of low pest populations.
In fitness-and-exercise terms, lacewings, with their rapid movement and voracious preying upon various small insects, can be likened to elite athletes tirelessly working to maintain order in the hop yard ecosystem. Lacewings, similar to high-performance athletes, need monitoring and support to maximize their impact, with yellow sticky card traps and shaking hop bines serving as tools for their recruitment.
Just as nutrition plays a crucial role in maintaining overall well-being, providing alternative food sources like flowering plants near hop yards can greatly benefit beneficial insects like minute pirate bugs, lacewings, and ladybugs. This practice aids in their survival during periods of low prey density, ultimately supporting the science of pest management and the health-and-wellness of hop farms.
