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

摘要: The butterfly fauna of south central Washington State, USA is characterized by shrub-steppe specialists adapted to hot, dry summers and cold winters. However, the ecosystem has diminished at an alarming rate due extensive agricultural development fostered access abundant water supply from Cascade Mountains. This resulted in loss fragmentation habitat for ~50 species butterflies which are now decline. Viticulture a major industry transitioned recent years sustainable, low pesticide-input enterprise. Current viticultural pest management research focused on restoration native plants enhance sustain beneficial arthropod populations (predators parasitoids) control. Butterfly were surveyed during 2012–13 pair vineyards (habitat-enhanced, conventional) each four regions [Columbia gorge (CG), Walla valley (WWV), Yakima (YV), Wahluke slope (WS)] south-central Washington. habitat-enhanced sites supported significantly greater number flowering plant (mostly native) than conventional vineyard sites. Twenty nine recorded with only these vineyards. Overall, there double [mean (±SE) 5.62 ± 0.85] compared (2.75 ± 0.75) although this was not statistically significant. A occurred CG WWV (10.5 ± 0.5) (3.5 ± 0.0) regions. Smaller numbers YV WS no significant differences between abundance (20.37 ± 5.34 individuals/visit) (5.5 ± 0.9) greatest strategy restoring habitats crop like wine grapes may have substantial benefits abundance, diversity conservation. Many perennials important attracting sustaining endemic biological control agents, also larval hosts and/or nectar sources threatened butterflies.