Strategies to attract and sustain beneficials that fight high tunnel pests.
Project Updates
May – July 2024
The high tunnel alyssum habitat planting project is in full swing! The plantings are beautiful and have been attracting numerous beneficial insects. We are excited to collect data throughout the summer on the planting and tunnel crops for common pests like aphids, thrips and spider mites and their natural enemies. Below are some photos of the plantings and some of the natural enemies that have been observed.
Alyssum Habitat Plantings
Some Beneficial Insects Observed on Alyssum and Tunnel Crops
The Margined Calligrapher is a syrphid fly whose larvae predate on small pests like aphids.
The Eurasian Drone Fly, Eristalis arbustorum, is an introduced syrphid species whose larvae feed on decaying organic matter.
The Common Flower Fly, Syrphus ribesii, is a syrphid species whose larvae predate on small pests.
The Swift Feather-legged Fly, Trichopoda pennipes, is a Tachinid. Its larvae are parasitoids of several true bugs that are agricultural pests, like squash bugs.
Aphid mummy created by a Praon, a braconid wasp.
Aphids parasitized by parasitic wasps (Aphidius species) turn into golden brown mummies.
Green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea, adult.
Green lacewing eggs
Green lacewing larva.
Predatory maggots/larvae (Syrphid and Aphidoletes species) feeding on aphids.
