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Workshop: Conservation Biological Control
May 5, 2016 @ 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
Conservation Biological Control Short Course Sponsored by the Xerces Society, NE-SARE and USDA-NRCS
In response to growing interest in promoting beneficial insects for their pest control services on farms, the Xerces Society has authored the book Farming With Native Beneficial Insects and developed the Conservation Biological Control Short Course to educate farmers, agriculture employees, natural resource specialists, land managers, and conservation organization
staff.
Skills and objectives include:
- The importance of beneficial insects – predators and parasitoids that attack insect pests.
- Overview of conservation biological control and integrated pest management (IPM).
- How to identify beneficial insects and distinguish them from other insects.
- How to recognize the habitat needs of beneficial insects and identify habitat deficiencies.
- The design and implementation of habitat improvements, including site preparation, insectary strip plantings, hedgerows, beetle banks, and more.
- The current best management practices that minimize land-use impacts on beneficial insects and mitigate exposure to insecticides.
- How to access USDA conservation programs for financial and technical support.
Participants will receive the Xerces Society’s Conservation Biological Control Toolkit which includes habitat installation guidelines and other relevant publications, and the Xerces’ book, Farming with Native Beneficial Insects.
Certified Crop Advisor (6 CEUs) and Pesticide Applicator Continuing Education (PACE) (5 CEUs) Available.
Contact: Jillian Vento, The Xerces Society at 503-232-6639 or pollinators@xerces.org