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Comparing Insect Predation by Birds and Insects in an Apple Orchard and Neighboring Unmanaged Habitat: Implications
Moshe Nagari1, Motti Charter1,2
1Shamir Research Institute, University of Haifa, Katzrin 1290000, Israel.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|October 27, 2023
Summary
Conventional pesticide use in orchards harms beneficial insects like ants, reducing natural pest control. Birds, however, provide significant pest predation within orchards, especially further from the border, highlighting their role in sustainable agriculture.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Entomology
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Ecosystem services, like natural pest control by predators, are vital for sustainable agriculture.
- Conventional pesticide use in orchards can negatively impact beneficial insects, disrupting natural pest control mechanisms.
- Understanding predator dynamics is crucial for integrated pest management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare avian and insect predator activity in an apple orchard with conventional insecticide use versus a bordering insecticide-free Eucalyptus stand.
- To assess the impact of distance from the orchard border on predation rates.
- To determine the effectiveness of birds and insects as natural enemies for pest control.
Main Methods:
- Mealworm pupae, as a proxy for codling moth pupae, were placed at 42 stations in both orchard and Eucalyptus habitats at varying distances (0m, 50m, 100m).
- Stations were either netted (excluding birds, allowing insects) or non-netted (allowing birds and insects).
- Video cameras recorded predation events to identify predator types (avian vs. insect).
Main Results:
- Birds were highly effective predators in non-netted stations, predating 94.1% of pupae in the orchard and 81.8% in the Eucalyptus stand.
- In netted stations, ants predated 70% of pupae in the orchard and 100% in the Eucalyptus stand.
- Bird predation increased with distance into the orchard, while insect predation decreased, suggesting negative impacts of insecticides on beneficial insects.
Conclusions:
- Orchard environments, particularly those with insecticide use, negatively affect beneficial insect predators like ants.
- Birds are significant predators of insect pests within apple orchards, with their efficacy increasing deeper into the orchard.
- Conservation of avian predators and reduction of insecticide use are recommended for enhancing natural pest control in agricultural ecosystems.
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