Listový opad ovocných dřevin v sadech a jeho potenciál pro podporu biologické ochrany rostlin a biodiverzity [Leaf litter of fruit trees in orchards and its potential for supporting biocontrol and biodiversity]

Abstract

The successful overwintering of invertebrates in the landscape of the temperate zone is crucial for their survival. This study is focused on overwintering invertebrates in leaf litter of orchards. We always sampled leaf litter from an area of 1 m2, seven times at the edges and seven times at the inner part of the three types of orchards together in four terms. Leaf litter samples were transferred to the laboratory where the invertebrates were captured and each taxon was assigned a beneficial arthropod, pest, or unclassifiable. We found that leaf litter is a very important reservoir, especially for beneficial invertebrates. Out of the total number of 1280 individuals taken from the complete area of 168 m2, 1017 invertebrates were in the category of beneficial organisms with the potential to control pests (79%), only 10 were pests (0.8%), and phytosanitary unclassified represented 253 individuals (about 20%). The most frequent invertebrates were spiders of which 787 individuals were captured. Spiders represents 59% of the entire number. The second largest group were beetles counting 215 individuals with 91 % belonging to the family Coccinelidae. One year leaf litter left in orchards during the winter has proven to be a very important overwintering habitat for beneficial invertebrates that have a large potential to pest control. Therefore, it is necessary to seek ways to managing leaf litter in a way that does not to suppress overwintering communities. Yet, this must be handled under consideration that leaf litter is also a significant source of fungal diseases.

Keywords

• overwintering
• orchards
• leaf litter
• beneficial arthropods
• pests
• spiders
• coccinelid beetles