McKenzie A. Roll, Phoenix School of Discovery, Kentucky Dr. John D. Sedlacek, Interim Chair, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Karen Friley, Co-Investigator, Entomology, CAFSSS

Native perennial border plantings were used to do quantify lady beetle populations and diversity vs. those found in pasture border rows. Sixteen species of native perennials (11 species of flowering plants and 5 species of grasses) commonly found in Kentucky prior to European settlement and extensive agricultural production were used. Samples were analyzed from June 10 and June 16 2015. Six species of lady beetles were found in this study. Spotless lady beetle, Cycloneda munda; orange spotted lady beetle, Brachiacantha ursina; 7-spotted lady beetle, Cocinnella spetempuntata; Pink Lady beetles, Coleomegilla maculata; parenthesis lady beetle, Hippodamia parenthesis, and multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis were caught. The spotless lady beetle was the most abundant species caught. Overall, there were more lady beetle species in the pasture border rows for these first 2 collections of 2015.

Some researchers have suggested that non-crop vegetation present in crop field margins can attract populations of predaceous arthropods and parasitoids, as well as increase the diversity of all arthropods. Lady beetles are known as important predators in agricultural systems. In general, lady beetles have been reported to be attracted to annual flowering plants including sunflower (Heliathus annuus) and buckwheat (Fagopyrum carinata).