Abundance and diversity of beneficial and pest arthropods in buckwheat on blueberry and vegetable farms in north Florida

Authors

  • Cory Penca University of Florida, Entomology and Nematology Department, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
  • Amanda C. Hodges University of Florida, Entomology and Nematology Department, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
  • Lani Lei L Davis University of Florida, Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center, Live Oak, FL 32060, USA
  • Norman C. Leppla University of Florida, Entomology and Nematology Department, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
  • Robert C. Hochmuth University of Florida, Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center, Live Oak, FL 32060, USA

Keywords:

companion plant, natural enemy, Fagopyrum esculentum, integrated pest management, managed diversity

Abstract

Summary

The occurrence of beneficial and pest arthropods collected from buckwheat companion plantings on a blueberry and a vegetable farm in north Florida was characterized. Similarity of arthropod diversity at the family level was intermediate (Sørensen index = 0.59). Significantly more pollinators and parasitoids but fewer pests were collected at the blueberry than the vegetable farm. The blueberry farm, therefore, achieved the goal of using companion plants to selectively enhance the impact of natural enemies. This goal was not accomplished at the vegetable farm because relatively large numbers of tarnished plant bugs and other pests attracted to the buckwheat were not controlled by the natural enemies.

 

Sumario

Se caracterizó la presencia de artrópodos benéficos y plaga recolectados de las plantaciones conjuntas de alforfón, arándanos y hortalizas en una granja de en el norte de la Florida. La similitud de la diversidad de artrópodos a nivel familiar fue intermedia (índice de Sørensen = 0,59). Significativamente se recolectaron más polinizadores y parasitoides, pero menos plagas en el arándano que en la granja de hortalizas. El huerto de arándanos, por lo tanto, logró el objetivo de utilizar plantas de compañía para aumentar selectivamente el impacto de los enemigos naturales. Esta meta no se logró en la granja de hortalizas debido a que un número relativamente grande del chinche Lygus lineolaris y otras plagas atraídas por el alforfón no fuerton controladas por los enemigos naturales. 

 

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Author Biographies

Cory Penca, University of Florida, Entomology and Nematology Department, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA

Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Entomology and Nematology

Lani Lei L Davis, University of Florida, Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center, Live Oak, FL 32060, USA

Extension Program Coordinator, Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center

Robert C. Hochmuth, University of Florida, Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center, Live Oak, FL 32060, USA

Center Director, Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension Center

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Published

2017-04-16

Issue

Vol. 100, No. 1 (March 2017)

Section

Scientific Notes

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