Can hedgerows near diverse cropping systems enhance beneficial arthropod communities?

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

2:12 PM - 2:24 PM Pacific

Location: Oregon Convention Center, E146, OCC

Presenting Author(s)

Heather E. Andrews

Oregon State University
Aurora, Oregon

Co-Author(s)

SL

Scott Lukas

Oregon State University North Willamette Research and Extension Center
Aurora, Oregon
LN

Lloyd Nackley

Oregon State University North Willamette Research and Extension Center
Aurora, Oregon
HN

Heidi Noordijk

Oregon State University North Willamette Research and Extension Center
Aurora, Oregon
AM

Andony Melothopoulos

Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon
Christopher Adams

Assistant Professor
Oregon State University
Hood River, Oregon
MF

Maggie Freeman

Oregon State University
Hood River, Oregon
CP

Corin Pease

Xerces Society
Sherwood, Oregon
KT

Kody Transue

Oregon State University North Willamette Research and Extension Center
Aurora, Oregon
NW

Nik Wiman

Oregon State University
Aurora, Oregon

Agricultural landscapes are composed of large-scale intensive monocultures, which can be highly productive, but are often lacking in free ecosystem services such as biological pest control and pollination. There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that arthropod populations that provide ecosystem services in agriculture are declining largely due to habitat loss and climate change. Substantial input costs are devoted to pest management and supplemental pollination in agricultural systems that may be compensating for the loss of free ecosystem services. Hedgerow plantings near agricultural systems can provide necessary habitat for arthropods including predatory insects, parasitoids and pollinators, and these can provide ecosystem services in crop production that include biological control of pests and pollination of the crop. They provide habitat that can benefit additional insects, which can provide prey for natural enemies when they are not present in the crop, and support birds and other vertebrates. Hedgerows can also reduce soil erosion and nutrient loss from farm borders and marginal areas and provide a natural buffer that reduces pesticide drift. The purpose of this project was to design and install low cost and maintenance hedgerows with species compositions designed to promote beneficials near a variety of crops, characterize the community of beneficials found within hedgerows and nearby crops, and to document bloom timing in all species to ensure a continuous food source during the growing season. Plants were installed in the early spring of 2024, and the preliminary results will be discussed in this presentation.