1. Topic Area: Plant Health and Production and Plant Products
Beneficial Insects Found in Native Perennial and Pasture BorderRows of Blackberry
Plots. Bashyal, M.*, Friley, K.L., Sedlacek, J.D, Slusher, E.K. and Govindasamy, S., Land Grant
Program, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY 40601.
Spotted wing Drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii, is anew invasivepest of blackberries. Female
SWD have a serrated ovipositor which is used to insert eggs into healthy fruit. The larvae hatch
and eat the berry from the inside. Fruit can appear undamaged upon harvest, when in fact larvae
may be present and the fruit damaged internally. Studies have suggested that native perennials
planted near crops can increase predator and parasitoid populations. Flowers provide nectar and
pollen to beneficialinsects when prey is not abundant. Grasses provide microclimates in the form
of moderated temperatures, which give shelter for these beneficial insects. The objective of this
research was to identify and quantify lady beetles, big-eyed bugs, minute pirate bugs, green
lacewings, brown lacewings and syrphid flies in blackberry plots bordered by native perennial
plants and pasture. Research was conducted at Kentucky State University's Harold R. Benson
Research and Demonstration Farm in Franklin County, Kentucky. Sixteen native Kentucky plants,
which contained 11 flowering species and 5 grass species were planted in two border rows in
each of four blackberry plots. The other four blackberry plots were bordered by pasture, which
contained a mixture of grasses, clover and broad leaf weeds. Four sticky traps, 15 cm X 15 cm
were placed equidistant from one another and the edges in each border row. Traps were
collected and reset weekly. Traps were brought to the laboratory for identification and
quantification. Results will be discussed regarding what beneficial insect species were found and
the abundance of each.
Key words: beneficial insects, Drosophila suzukii, native perennial plants, blackberry