Butterflies in sprayed and unsprayed field margins
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Published source details
de Snoo G.R., van der Poll R.J. & Bertels J. (1998) Butterflies in sprayed and unsprayed field margins. Journal of Applied Entomology (formerly Zeitschrift für angewandte Entomologie), 122, 157-161.
Published source details de Snoo G.R., van der Poll R.J. & Bertels J. (1998) Butterflies in sprayed and unsprayed field margins. Journal of Applied Entomology (formerly Zeitschrift für angewandte Entomologie), 122, 157-161.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Leave headlands in fields unsprayed (conservation headlands) Action Link |
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Leave headlands in fields unsprayed (conservation headlands) Action Link |
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Leave headlands in fields unsprayed (conservation headlands)
A replicated, paired, controlled study in 1990–1992 in arable field edges on 12 farms in the Netherlands (de Snoo et al. 1998, same experimental set-up as de Snoo 1996) found that unsprayed field margins had a higher abundance and species richness of butterflies than sprayed margins. Butterfly abundance was higher in unsprayed edges of winter wheat in both years (10–12 individuals/100 m²) and potatoes in 1992 (5 individuals/100 m²) compared to sprayed edges (wheat: 2–3, potato: 1 individuals/100 m²). Species richness was also higher in unsprayed winter wheat in both years (3–4 species/100 m²) and potatoes in 1992 (3 species/100 m²) compared to sprayed edges (wheat: 1–2, potato: 1 species/100 m²). All six of the most common species (Meadow brown Maniola jurtina, Wall Lasiommata megera, Small heath Coenonympha pamphilus, Small white Pieris rapae, Green-veined white Pieris napi, Essex skipper Thymelicus lineola) had higher abundance in unsprayed than sprayed edges in one or both years and crops (see paper for data). Strips 6 × 100 m or 400 m along field edges were left unsprayed by herbicides and insecticides and were compared to sprayed edges in the same field. Butterflies were sampled once/week on the crop edges and adjacent ditch banks nine times from mid-May to July in 1990 and 1992.
(Summarised by: Andrew Bladon, edited from Farmland synopsis)
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Leave headlands in fields unsprayed (conservation headlands)
A replicated, controlled, paired study from 1990 to 1992 of arable field edges on 12 farms in the Netherlands (de Snoo et al. 1998) found that unsprayed field margins had greater butterfly (Lepidoptera) abundance than sprayed margins. Butterfly numbers were significantly higher in the unsprayed edges of winter wheat in both years (10-12 butterflies/100 m²) and potatoes in 1992 (5/100 m²) compared to sprayed edges (wheat: 2-3, potato: 1). The same was true for numbers of species: unsprayed winter wheat (3-4 species/100 m²) and potatoes in 1992 (3/100 m²) compared to sprayed edges (wheat: 1-2, potato: 1). In all six individual species, abundance was greater in unsprayed compared to sprayed edges (in one or both years and crops). Strips 6 m x 100 m or 400 m long along field edges were left unsprayed by herbicides and insecticides and were compared to sprayed edges in the same field. Butterflies were sampled once a week on the crop edges and adjacent ditch banks nine times from mid-May to July in 1990 and 1992. This study was part of the same experimental set-up as (de Snoo et al. 1994, de Snoo 1996, de Snoo & de Leeuw 1996, de Snoo 1997, de Snoo 1999).
