Native flowering shrubs promote beneficial insects in avocado orchards

Abstract

1 Flower strips can promote and conserve beneficial insects in agroecosystems. Knowing which groups are favoured and which plant traits affect visitation rates by beneficial insects is important for the design of plant strips. 2 We established 21 Native Flower Strips (NFS) in avocado orchards in Central Chile.NFS contained 7-11 plant species, with variable corolla length and flowering period, to promote beneficial insects. We assessed flight activity of ladybirds (Coccinellidae) and bees (Apiformes) in sites adjacent to and far from NFS within avocado orchards. Additionally, we evaluated flower visitation for the main flower visitor groups (Apiformes, Lepidoptera, Diptera, and Coleoptera) to the plant species in NFS according to season and corolla length. 3 We found almost six times greater flight activity of coccinellids and bees in NFS than sites far from NFS within avocado orchards. Visitation rates of pollinator groups varied according to corolla length and season. Diptera, Coleoptera, and Lepidoptera consistently visited short corolla flowers. NFS were highly visited in summer and autumn, when avocados were not in bloom. 4 NFS in orchards should be encouraged by policymakers because they support beneficial insects that could deliver ecosystem services and contribute to local biological conservation.Keywords floral traits, flower visitors, native bees, native flora, perennial flower strips.

Floral Patches and Their Impact on Pollinator Attraction and Yield Production on Cucurbita maxima Var. Paine in Central Chile

“…In addition, it was possible to observe a greater frequency of visits to flowers in cultivation in the treated plot compared to the control situation. These findings coincide with the results of several other studies, where an increase in both diversity and pollination frequency has been documented [11,17,[24][25][26]. For example, in Scotland [17] on Rubus idaeus (raspberry) crops it was observed that the addition of a strip of wild flowers increased the abundance of species present in the crop by 25%.…”

“…For example, in Scotland [17] on Rubus idaeus (raspberry) crops it was observed that the addition of a strip of wild flowers increased the abundance of species present in the crop by 25%. Likewise, in Israel, in a study carried out on a Citrullus lanatus crop between 2009 and 2011 [26], it was determined that the addition of floral patches increased the presence and visitation of wild pollinators, but not of honeybees.…”

A roadmap for ladybird conservation and recovery

“…During the growing season, protective measures can be directed at woodlots and urban green spaces, where ladybird abundance is usually high and application of pesticides is restricted (Honek et al., 2017). Additional strategies include adding native and noncrop vegetation around agricultural crops to enhance alternative resources and shelter for ladybirds (Muñoz et al., 2021). Furthermore, ladybird populations may be protected on crops for which yield losses are tolerable or refundable from the state agricultural.…”