Pest monitoring and management in agroecosystems in the interior of British Columbia through landscape management and natural enemies of herbivores

Researchers:

Meganne K.Harrison¹, Anne Robinson¹, Dr. Jasmine K. Janes², Dr.Dezene P.W.Huber<sup>1

1</sup>University of Northern British Columbia Faculty of Environment, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9

² Vancouver Island University, Faculty of Environment, 900 Fifth St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5

Presentation Title: Pest monitoring and management in agroecosystems in the interior of British Columbia through landscape management for enhancing natural enemy assemblages

Research Focus: Agroecology biodiversity and integrated pest management

Student Level: Masters

Abstract

Producers in the central interior of BC have noticed shifting pest population dynamics, which have impacted, potentially related to climate change. In order to make more effective and targeted recommendations to producers, we are taking the first steps to setting up an effective monitoring system in the region by determining baseline biodiversity of pests and their natural enemies in agricultural fields and adjacent forests. We are also investigating how assemblages differ with different land management. We will monitor pests and natural enemies for two growing seasons. In the first year we sampled 15 sites using pitfall traps, standardized net sweeps, vegetation surveys, hand collection, and GIS-based assessment of land management in fields along a ~600km corridor of BC Highway 16. We sampled during three two-week periods between June and August 2022. We are conducting initial identification of species with morphological keys and DNA barcoding. We anticipate using this information to develop region-specific recommendations for producers and be able to better monitor the ingress of novel insect pests and their natural enemies in the coming years.