D3275: Impacts of mulch treatments on pest, predator, and pollinator arthropod populations on strawberry crops in Northwest Washington

This study investigates a broad survey of significant arthropod populations within strawberry crops of two cultivars: ‘Albion’ and ‘Totem’. In these cultivars, five mulch treatments were sampled: green biodegradable, black biodegradable, black polyethylene, reflective metalized, and untreated control. Within these treatments visual counts, yellow sticky cards, and leaf brushing techniques were employed on a weekly to biweekly basis. Pest insects of importance include lygus bugs, aphids, and two-spotted spider mites. Beneficial insects include green lacewings, predatory mites, honeybees, and hoverflies. This is an ongoing project with one season of data thus far, of which has found significantly lower populations of thrips, aphids, and two-spotted spider mites on metalized mulch compared to all four other treatments on yellow sticky card collections. Pollination success will be accounted for in conjunction with the horticulture department’s fruit counts and average weight of marketable strawberries.