Six Habitats for Beneficial Insects
- Field Borders Strips
of native grasses and wildflowers planted along field edges, farm roads, underneath power lines, or in the corner areas of center-pivot irrigated fields.
- Pollinator Hedgerows Linearrows of flowering shrubs, trees, perennial wildflowers, and grasses in the understory. Located along property boundaries, fence lines, roads, and as barriers to separate crop fields.
- Streamside Buffers Multi-levelnative vegetation maintained along streams, creeks, and rivers.
- Beetle Banks Grassedelevated berm that provides shelter and overwintering habitat for predatory ground beetles. Planted next to or through the center of crop fields.
- Cover Crops and Alley Crops Temporaryor permanent plantings of ground cover on fallow crop fields, between rows of berry crops or nursery stock, or in the understory of vineyards and orchards.
- Insectary Stripsof pollen and nectar sources planted between crop rows. For more information see Farming with Native Beneficial Insects: Ecological Pest Control Solutions, Xerces Society Guide. View Resource