Final report for OS24-171
Project Information
We developed a program to help growers better implement habitat using three objectives: Objective 1. Create and install a habitat design for southeastern agroecosystems. Objective 2: Document the benefits of habitat installation. Objective 3: Hold a workshop for southeastern growers detailing the habitat design, where to find resources (seeds and plugs), installation process, and benefits so as to empower growers to install habitat on their own farms.
This project addressed the Beneficial Insect Habitat and Increasing Sustainability of Existing Farming Practices focal areas by developing a plant mix that provides habitat for native beneficial insects on farms and encourages a practice that will increase the sustainability of farms. Our project team included local experts on sustainable agriculture (CEFS [Center for Environmental Farming Systems], NC [North Carolina] State Cooperative Extension), farming experience in the southeastern US (farmer cooperator), local, native plants (NC State Cooperative Extension, NC Botanical Garden), and beneficial insects in agricultural areas (NC State University).
Objective 1. Create and install a habitat design for southeastern agroecosystems
Objective 2: Document the benefits of habitat installation
Objective 3: Hold a workshop for southeastern growers
Cooperators
- - Producer
- (Educator)
- (Educator)
- (Researcher)
Research
Objective 1. Create and install a habitat design for southeastern agroecosystems
To create a regionally relevant habitat design that supports wildlife and meets grower needs, we used our team’s expertise (as well as relevant literature) to create a recommended habitat layout. Our layout included 15 plant species spread across two blocks: Block A and Block B (see link to PDF document included under Objective 3). These blocks are roughly 46 ft x 10 ft in size, each. The blocks were designed to be modular so that the user can change the orientation and repeat blocks multiple times to fit their unique space. However, to appropriately follow our intended design, both blocks must be used. The 15 plant species we selected are known to support pollinators and other beneficial insects, bloom across the bee active season (spring - early fall), have different bloom sizes and colors, and grow to different heights. We prioritized perennials plants so that the habitat is a semi-permanent addition to the landscape. The plant species also have additional benefits such as providing nesting habitat, drought tolerance, or deer tolerance.
In October 2024, we will installed our habitat design on 3 North Carolina farms. We helped the farms select the site location, provided all the plant plugs, and assisted in installation. We also provided guidance on management of the habitat such as irrigation needs and overwintering management.
Objective 2: Document the benefits of habitat installation
We conducted pre- and post-habitat installation insect surveys to document that our habitat design is providing ecosystem services to farms. The pre-installation survey was conducted in Year 1 (2024) and the post-installation survey was conducted in Year 2 (2025).
For both surveys, we followed similar sampling methods to those outlined in Levenson & Tarpy, 2023, which includes two sampling methods: active hand netting and passive pan trapping. Active hand netting involves using an insect net to collect insects and transferring collected samples into storage containers. Pan trapping involves using small plastic cups painted yellow, blue, and white. The paint used on the cups reflects specific UV wavelengths that attract insects. The cups are filled with soapy water, which breaks the water’s surface tension, and acts as a passive collection tool for insects. By using both methods together, we collected a more thorough sample of the insect community as netting collects larger bodied insects and pan traps collect smaller, harder to detect insects. Both sampling methods were used once a month from May through September. Pan traps were placed around the edge of the habitat installation area and left in place for 24 hours. After, the contents of the traps were collected, separated by farm, and stored at -20 C until further processing. Hand netting was conducted for a total of 1 hour each month, along a haphazard transect within the habitat installation area. Each netting survey consisted of two 30-minute surveys - one in the morning and one in the afternoon. This enables us to account for temporal differences in insect abundance and diversity across time of day. Each collected specimen was placed in individual tubes, separated by farm, and stored at -20 C until further processing. All collected specimens were identified down to the lowest taxonomic level possible at the Specialty Crops Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management Laboratory at NC State University.
Objective 3: Hold a workshop for southeastern growers
In February 2026, we held a 3-hour in-person workshop for southeastern growers to outline our findings. During the workshop, we shared the details of our habitat design, including what plants were selected and why, guidance on site selection and prep, recommendations for installation and maintenance, where to source plants locally, and our initial findings on insect visitation. This information was summarized in a handout that each attendee received. We recently made a posting on the NC Extension Pollinator Portal page sharing this information and linking to a PDF of the workshop handout (see here: https://pollinators.ces.ncsu.edu/news/want-to-su/).
At the workshop, one of the participating farms where habitat was installed shared their experience installing and maintaining the habitat with the audience. Our team, including the participating farm, then shared lessons we learned while installing and monitoring the habitat so that others avoid some of the mishaps we experienced. The workshop closed with an audience Q&A session where attendees had the opportunity to ask any questions or concerns they had about installing habitat, and supporting pollinators in general. We recorded the workshop and posted it on the Chatham County Extension Youtube so that those who could not, or did not, attend the workshop can access the information (see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EWO8T6xzg8).
Objective 1. Create and install a habitat design for southeastern agroecosystems
From April 2024 to September 2024, our team developed a modular habitat design - which includes 15 different plant species - and outlined site preparation guidelines. The modular nature of the design brings flexibility to the habitat so that farmers can tailor the exact layout to their specific space. The selected plant species were propagated by the North Carolina Botanical Garden.
In October 2024, our team provided the propagated plant plugs to three farms. One farm was located in Chatham County, North Carolina, one was in Orange County, and the third was in Robeson County. Following our preparation guidelines, we assisted each farm in planting the plant plugs so that each of the habitats followed our design. The habitat was a different configuration and size on each farm and included 340 - 880 plants, depending on the size. We then provided maintenance recommendations to each farm including irrigation and overwintering management suggestions.
Prior to initiating this project, in 2023 we surveyed 200 growers in the southeastern US (but most respondents were in North Carolina). By creating this habitat design we address the 34.3% of survey respondents that reported needing more help or information before they could install habitat on their farm. By providing the plant plugs to participating farms we helped alleviate the 57.3% of respondents that report access to resources as a major barrier to installing habitat, and directly address the 5.6% of respondents that reported limited access to seeds and plants.
Objective 2: Document the benefits of habitat installation
In 2024 and 2025, across both sampling methods and all three farms, we collected a total of 1233 insects across 6 groups. In 2024, we collected 256 bees, 60 moths and butterflies, 79 wasps, 375 flies, 146 beetles, and 298 other. In 2025, we collected 544 bees, 77 moths and butterflies, 70 wasps, 244 flies, 88 beetles, and 210 other. Within bees, we collected 9 genera of bees in 2024 and 20 genera of bees in 2025. All genera that were collected in 2024 were collected again in 2025, suggesting that the addition of the habitat for the 2025 season lead to a great increase in pollinator diversity on farms. We collected insects on all but one plant species, with Gaillardia pulchella having the most insect visitation, followed by Monarda punctata, and then Monarda fistulosa. We did note that, because we planted perennials, some of the plants took longer to establish (particularly Baptisia australis). While every plant species, other than Baptisia australis, bloomed during the 2025 season, we do note that the habitat could look different in future years as the plants have more time to fully establish in the planting. The one plant species we did not collect insects from was Vernonia glauca; while this species did bloom in 2025, it had low bloom abundance, which we expect to increase as the plant becomes more established.
Objective 3: Hold a workshop for southeastern growers
The workshop was extremely popular: we had 400 people register and over 300 people attend (final attendance is still being verified). For the first 100 attendees to arrive, we passed out a small bag of a wildflower seed mix that included some (but not all) of the plant species we used in our habitat design, provided by the Specialty Crops Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management Lab at NC State University. For the first 200 attendees to arrive, we passed out a small packet of Symphyotrichum grandiflorum seed, provided by the North Carolina Botanical Garden. The NC Botanical Garden selected this species to be the 2026 NC Wildflower of the Year, inspired by their participation in this project (see here: https://ncbg.unc.edu/2026/01/08/2026-nc-wildflower-of-the-year/). The information in this workshop helped to address concerns that growers reported in our 2023 survey such as limited information (34.3%) and understanding of habitat benefits (19.5%), as well as needing help understanding how to install habitat and where to find resources (14.8%).
Next Steps
Although the grant period for this project has ended, our team has a few remaining actions we hope to take. We plan to have our workshop handout PDF reviewed and updated so that it can be posted as a Fact Sheet on the NC Extension page. We also plan to analyze the insect visitation data in more depth so that we can published our findings in a peer reviewed journal. Finally, because the habitat included perennial species, we plan to check in on the habitat in 2026 to see if establishment and blooming changes as the plants become more established.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation summary:
We created a handout PDF detailing our findings from the project (https://pollinators.ces.ncsu.edu/documents/4032/Levenson_et_al._handout_2026_links.pdf) and wrote an extension post about the handout (https://pollinators.ces.ncsu.edu/news/want-to-su/).
We gave a 3-hour in-person workshop to (at least) 300 people. We recorded the workshop and posted the recording to Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EWO8T6xzg8); the recording has been viewed by 250 people already as of writing this report in April 2026.
Our team plans to update the handout to be a Fact Sheet on NC Extension, as well as to summarize our findings in a manuscript and submit it as a journal article to a peer reviewed journal.
Learning Outcomes
What insects to expect to visit planted pollinator habitat
Best practices for site selection and site preparation for pollinator habitat
Best practices for maintaining pollinator habitat
Best practices for planting plant plugs for pollinator habitat
Where to source plants locally for pollinator habitat
What plant species to use in pollinator habitat
How to design pollinator habitat
Benefits of planting habitat
Project Outcomes
We have created an expert informed guide to creating habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects: https://pollinators.ces.ncsu.edu/documents/4032/Levenson_et_al._handout_2026_links.pdf. We tested the guidelines on three farms providing each farm with semi-permanent habitat on their property and providing real-world experience to others who are interested so they can avoid mishaps that we experienced. Through this project we have addressed the Beneficial Insect Habitat and Increasing Sustainability of Existing Farming Practices focal areas; by providing the plant plugs to participating farms we helped alleviate the 57.3% of respondents that report access to resources as a major barrier to installing habitat, and directly address the 5.6% of respondents that reported limited access to seeds and plants (as reported in our 2023 grower survey); the information gathered throughout the project and presented in the in-person workshop helped to address concerns that growers reported in our 2023 survey such as limited information (34.3%) and understanding of habitat benefits (19.5%), as well as needing help understanding how to install habitat and where to find resources (14.8%).