Study

Beauty with benefits: Butterfly conservation in Washington State, USA, wine grape vineyards

  • Published source details James D.G., Seymour L., Lauby G. & Buckley K. (2015) Beauty with benefits: Butterfly conservation in Washington State, USA, wine grape vineyards. Journal of Insect Conservation, 19, 341-348.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Manage vineyards to benefit butterflies and moths

Action Link
Butterfly and Moth Conservation
  1. Manage vineyards to benefit butterflies and moths

    A replicated, paired, site comparison study in 2012–2013 in eight vineyards in Washington State, USA (James et al. 2015) found that vineyards which were managed to encourage native plants had a higher abundance, but not species richness, of butterflies than conventionally managed vineyards. Butterfly abundance was higher in habitat-enhanced vineyards (20 individuals/visit) than in conventionally managed vineyards (6 individuals/visit). Butterfly species richness was not significantly higher in enhanced vineyards (5.6 species/visit) than conventional vineyards (2.8 species/visit), although a total of 29 species were recorded in enhanced vineyards compared to nine in conventional vineyards over the two years. Four pairs of vineyards (0.5–32 km apart) were selected. In each pair, one “habitat-enhanced” vineyard had native plants restored at the site for five years (2 sites) or 15–20 years (2 sites), and insecticides were never, or rarely, used. The four “conventional” vineyards did not encourage native plants, frequently applied herbicides and occasionally sprayed pesticides. From May–September 2012–2013, butterflies were surveyed for 30–40 minutes every two weeks in each vineyard.

    (Summarised by: Andrew Bladon)

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