Creating habitat for beneficial insects: Project update at the end of the first year

Fair warning, this is going to be a longer post. But partly that’s because there are so many pictures. I will start with the overview, then go a bit deeper into the weeds (literally and figuratively). To help you navigate more quickly, here’s a sort of table of contents that will quickly take you to … Continue reading Creating habitat for beneficial insects: Project update at the end of the first year

Creating habitat for beneficial insects – early summer 2018 project update

As I mentioned in my January post, I am excited to be working with two NYS IPM colleagues (Dr. Betsy Lamb and Brian Eshenaur) to demonstrate the costs, labor, and effectiveness of different methods for establishing habitat plants for pollinators and other beneficial insects. Remember, habitat for pollinators is also habitat for insects and mites … Continue reading Creating habitat for beneficial insects – early summer 2018 project update

Harvesting and sowing your own native seeds – August 17, 2023

For the past six years, we’ve been cultivating perennial grasses and wildflowers that feed and support beneficial insects. All of these plants came from seeds—whether sown by us or by others—and we’ll focus this year’s annual open house on these wonderful seeds. Come join folks from New York State Integrated Pest Management, and Petra Page-Mann … Continue reading Harvesting and sowing your own native seeds – August 17, 2023

Protect Pollinators and Natural Enemies of Pests, Choose Pesticides Carefully

Hopefully we can all agree that protecting friendly insects (pollinators and natural enemies of pests) on our farms and in our gardens and landscapes is important. We want to manage pests, without hurting bees, butterflies, ladybugs, parasitoid wasps, minute pirate bugs, hover flies, ground beetles, and so many more of our insect friends. Using IPM … Continue reading Protect Pollinators and Natural Enemies of Pests, Choose Pesticides Carefully

Fall is for planting…these resources can help!

You’ve probably heard that fall is the best time to plant perennials (including seed for perennial wildflowers). Are you planning to start or expand a planting that supports pollinators and natural enemies of pests (beneficial insects) this fall? Trying to decide what to plant? I wanted to make sure you know about some resources from … Continue reading Fall is for planting…these resources can help!

Some great biocontrol events coming up!

Next week is full of great biocontrol events! If you are in the Geneva, NY area, don’t miss out! Thursday August 11 5:30-7:30 PM We are in our 5th year of establishing perennial wildflowers and grasses to support pollinators and natural enemies of pests. Perhaps you’ve been following our progress (although admittedly I owe you … Continue reading Some great biocontrol events coming up!

Introducing a new Christmas tree project

If you’ve been following this blog for a bit, you might recall that the beneficial insect habitat plots I’ve been helping to establish and monitor with my colleagues Betsy Lamb and Brian Eshenaur are located on the edges of a field of Christmas trees. Once the trees get a bit bigger, we’ll be able to … Continue reading Introducing a new Christmas tree project

Finding plants that feed friendly insects

I don’t know about you, but this time of year I start daydreaming of all the plants I can’t wait to grow in my garden once it gets warm. The virtual and hard copy seed catalogs that fill my mailbox and my inbox are full of so many beautiful pictures and inviting suggestions. How to … Continue reading Finding plants that feed friendly insects

Conservation biocontrol in the time of COVID-19

Thanks to everyone who’s been following the project I’ve been working on with Betsy Lamb and Brian Eshenaur to establish (and document the impacts of) habitat for natural enemies of pests and pollinators (collectively, beneficial insects) around a research planting of Christmas trees! For many people, life does not look the same as it did … Continue reading Conservation biocontrol in the time of COVID-19