Scoping study to investigate the effect of mulches on insect communities in pome fruit and vines

The effects of mulches on arthropod assemblages in fruit orchards is not well documented.  The aim of this project is to do initial scoping to establish the most effective research direction for a trial investigating mulches from an entomological perspective.  Regardless of the crop, some general recommendations can be made for future research, based on some preliminary sampling in orchard and vineyards:

• Use of pitfall traps, sticky traps, pheromone traps and visual observations important
• Sample entire arthropod assemblage, including Springtails; possibly include earthworms and centipedes as well.
• Sampling over at least two seasons to determine effects over seasonal and annual climate. Longer term sampling will also reflect changes in the arthropod community over time.
• Use of mealybugs, their parasitoids and ants as a surrogate example to answer more complex questions of effects of mulches on tri-trophic interactions in vineyards.