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  • From: Harvey Ussery <boxwood@nelsoncable.com>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] Insect diversity (was Re: Synergistic Agriculture)
  • Date: Sat, 07 Jul 2007 13:23:39 -0400


OK, good. Can you provide further clarification/emphasis? ~E. E. "Mitch"
Mitchamore

1) With regard to native beneficial insects and pollinators, are native
plants mandatory, or will non-native, well-adapted plants be as beneficial?
That would expand the options considerably.

Hastening to emphasize my lack of expertise in this area.

One example that comes to mind is dandelion, an introduced plant anywhere on this continent, but one which is host to honeybees and many other insects going after pollen. I'm speculating, but, aside from exceptional cases, many insects will be quite generalist in the pollen they will seek out (and indeed plants can be classified as offering "specialist" or "generalist" nectaries). In that case, flower architecture and size and time of bloom in the season would count for more than whether a given plant is native or non-native. There may be good reasons to avoid planting non-natives, but as a general principle: The more (in quantity and diversity) flowering plants in/around garden and orchard, the more the boost in local insect diversity.

I've been planting a lot of species new to me. I lean toward planting natives, but also set plants from elsewhere. In some cases I do not even know whether a plant is native. For example, of my favorite two fertility patch plants, stinging nettle is certainly native, but I do not know whether comfrey would be anywhere in these parts if I hadn't fallen in love with it. (In either case, a certain sort of smaller black bumblebee just *loves* it.)

2) You specified "flowering" plants. Are there additional guidelines? For
example, I would not expect a hybrid bred for appearance to appeal to insects as much
as to humans.

Again a specific example comes to mind: Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, is a wonderful habitat plant--its umbel-like flower heads are host to many beneficials. The cultivated varieties (in pastels--natural yarrow flowers are white) are not as attractive to insects. I can't quote you a percentage difference on that, but every source I've consulted on the subject agrees that natural yarrow is far better as habitat. My own observation bears this out. (I just went out and did a snapshot comparison: Flower bed yarrow [yellow] was hosting only 2 species, while the natural yarrow showed at least a dozen before I lost track.)

And remember that encouragement of beneficials comes not only from *flowers.* In addition to offering pollen, flowers offer nectar as well; but some plants have "extrafloral nectaries" to feed nectar to visiting insects, in leaf nodes (an example is sweet potato) or elsewhere.

And one comment: Since Spring is so busy, I can't often decide where to make beds or plant
flowers (sun/shade/ wet/dry). I have been quickly potting perennials in containers and
setting them in a "likely spot". If they appear to need more sun or shade, I
move them. Then I let them go to seed. I have new flowers popping up all over my 4 acres
and beyond, spread by wind and birds. If it's not a good spot, they die. If it's good,
they flourish. If they're in the way, they get stepped-on or whacked. So far, I've
introduced at least 20 perennials to my land that are native to Central Texas, but were not
found here before. Easy & works well.

Thanks for the technique, potting the perennials and listening to what they're saying about the location before setting them permanently.

I too have been going with a "scatter and let them go to it" approach. When planting new groups of purchased plants (angelica, vervain, meadowsweet, etc.), I've been splitting them up and planting them in different sorts of habitat. I can propagate from those that do best, into similar environments.

~Harvey

--
Harvey in northern Va
www.themodernhomestead.us




  • Re: [Livingontheland] Insect diversity (was Re: Synergistic Agriculture), Harvey Ussery, 07/07/2007

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