Vineyards growing grapes for the production of wine may have another benefit as well - the fields could assist in the preservation of butterflies, a new study reveals. The investigation noted the effect of the vineyards on populations of 50 species of the insects living in eastern Washington state.
Sage-steppe shrubberies are often planted around vineyards by farmers in an effort to attract insects, such as parasitic wasps, that fed on species that can damage the crops. The new study shows that butterflies are also attracted to the plants, providing another added benefit to the ecologically sound farming technique.
"Conservation of butterflies is becoming an issue because all species are declining. The habitat has been taken away by agriculture. This is a way of giving back. We're showing that an agricultural industry can live alongside the natural ecology and help preserve and conserve it," David James of the Department of Entomology at Washington State University said.
Researchers in the study identified an average of 20 butterflies in each enhanced vineyard, representing a total of 29 species. This compares to vineyards without the natural pest protection, which had five butterflies in an average field, from nine total species.
Butterflies do not eat any pests that infest grape crops, so butterflies do not provide a direct benefit to farmers. However, researchers hope the presence of the insects will be welcomed by winemakers, and it is possible vineyards may take advantage of the finding to attract tourists to their facilities. The colorful insects are also efficient pollinators for some species of plants, and they play important roles in the ecosystem.
This new study may not necessarily apply outside the borders of Washington state. Vineyards there are subject to fewer pests, and farmers use fewer chemical pesticides than those in many other locations.
As demand for organic and naturally grown foods grows, butterflies may, one day, become a symbol of ecologically minded farming, including the production of wine.
"To have butterflies flying around could be part of a tourism drive and an attraction for visitors. In these days of organic production and not wanting pesticides on food, butterflies can be a symbol of that. To show butterflies flying around vineyards has great aesthetic and commercial appeal," James stated in a university press release.
Around 20,000 species of butterflies are known worldwide, and more than 2,700 types are known to live in North America, most of which are native to Mexico.
Analysis of the role of natural bug protection in vineyards on populations of butterflies was published in the Journal of Insect Conservation.
Photo: Steve Corey | Flickr
