Natural enemies in the hopyard
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EmailBe on the lookout for predatory insects and spiders that can benefit your hopyard this growing season and check out resources to support populations.
The recent publication by Lilian Calderwood, “Survey of Northeastern Hop Arthropod Pests and Their Natural Enemies,” in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management was a thorough review of the challenges facing hop growers in the Midwest and eastern United States, and includes some new insight into current natural enemies in the hopyard. Natural enemies include predatory or parasitic insects and spiders that can help control pest populations in hopyards. Pests affected by natural enemies include, but are not limited to, twospotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae), potato leafhopper (Empoasca fabae) and hop aphid (Phorodon humuli). Major groups of natural enemies include parasitic wasps, spiders, predatory mites, predatory true bugs, predatory flies, lacewings and lady beetles.
Major hop pests and their natural enemy groups | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Pest common name |
Pest species |
Natural enemy common name |
Natural enemy taxon |
|
Twospotted spider mite |
Tetranychus urticae |
Predatory mites |
Phytoseiidae |
|
Spider mite destroyer |
Stethorus punctum spp. |
||
|
Minute pirate bug |
Anthocoridae |
||
|
Hop aphid |
Phorodon humuli |
Minute pirate bug, bigeyed bugs and damsel bugs |
Anthocoridae, Geocoridae and Nabidae |
|
Green lacewing and brown lacewing |
Chrysopidae and Hemerobiidae |
||
|
Ladybird beetle |
Coccinellidae |
||
|
Parasitoid wasps |
Parasitica |
||
|
Syrphid fly |
Syrphidae |
||
|
Potato leafhopper |
Empoasca fabae |
Minute pirate bug, bigeyed bugs and damsel bugs |
Anthocoridae, Geocoridae and Nabidae |
|
Green lacewing and brown lacewing |
Chrysopidae and Hemerobiidae |
||
|
Ladybird beetle |
Coccinellidae |
||
|
Parasitoid wasps |
Parasitica |
||
|
Spiders |
Aranae |
||
Calderwood et al. 2015
Twospotted spider mites, eggs, larvae and adults. Photo credit: David Cappaert, MSU, Bugwood.org
Potato leafhopper nymphs. Photo credit: Erin Lizotte, MSU Extension
Hop aphid. Photo credit: Erin Lizotte, MSU Extension
According to Michigan State University Extension, there is little information available regarding the role of natural enemies in the control of pests in hopyards. Parasitic wasps are abundant, and several have been documented as parasites of both potato leafhopper and hop aphid, however their effectiveness as a biological control agent in hops has not been evaluated. Spiders represent a diverse group of natural enemies and feed primarily on other arthropods as a generalist predator. Spiders may contribute to the control of hop aphid and potato leafhopper.
Predatory mites have been documented as controlling twospotted spider mite populations in hopyards and are recognized as an important contributor to mite management. Minute pirate bugs are a generalist predator of hop aphid and potentially potato leafhopper. Green lacewings are voracious predators of soft-bodied insects including hop aphid and potato leafhopper and are often observed in Michigan hopyards.
Lacewing egg on silken stalk. Photo credit: Erin Lizotte, MSU Extension
Green lacewing larva. Photo credit: David Cappaert, MSU, Bugwood.org
Lady beetles encompass a large family of beetles that includes generalist predators. Lady beetles are often observed in hopyards and are known to feed on twospotted spider mite and hop aphid.
Lady bug pupa on the underside of a hop leaf. Photo credit: Erin Lizotte, MSU Extension
For more information on how to identify natural enemies, visit MSU’s Biocontrol page. You can learn more about supporting natural enemies at the Native Plants and Ecosystem Services website.
