Multi-functionality across insect life stages: Green Lacewing ecosystem services

Many insects, including green lacewings, interact with multiple plants throughout their lifecycle, providing different ecosystem services across different life stages. Green lacewing predate upon aphids as larvae and, as adults, act as pollinators.

This project investigates the ability of intercropped flowers to attract hoverflies in Brassica fields and the ability of green lacewing larvae to control cabbage loopers, a common pest, across different Brassica types. 

Harrison Solomon '26 presented initial results from this project at the Kenyon Scholars Symposium in October 2024. He is presenting further results from this project at the Ecological Society of America meeting in Baltimore, MD in August 2026. 

This work is supported by the Kenyon Farm Fellows program.

Harrison Solomon monitors herbivore damage on cabbage plants at Kenyon Farm.

Potted daisies are placed at varying densities throughout the field to monitor the abilities of flowers to attract beneficial pests.

Harrison Solomon carries out a feeding trial with green lacewing larvae, cabbage loopers and various brassicas.

Local and landscape drivers of insect ecosystem services in apple orchards

Apple orchards provide an interesting and important system to study insect dynamics. Orchards are a perennial crop system and, in central Ohio, are located within a matrix of other land-uses including row-crop agriculture, forest patches, roads and pastures. This project is investigating the impacts of neighboring land-use on orchard insect communities. 

In summer 2025, Noah Dean '26, is using a variety of techniques including sticky cards, plasticine caterpillars, net exclusions and potted flowers to assess how edge type and distance from edge impact insect-associated ecosystem services at 4 central Ohio apple orchards. 

This work is supported by Kenyon's Sustainability Scholars program. 

Effects of biochar on plant productivity and soil micro-arthropods

A pilot project spearheaded by Kenyon Biology major Megan Lydon '25 investigated the impact of biochar, a common soil amendment, on plant germination and collembola preference.

Methodological procedures for collembola preference trials were refined, resulting in a successful protocol (pictured to the right). Petri dishes were divided, with different treatment mixtures on either side of the divider. Collembola were added in the center and the divider removed. After 48 hours, the substrates were separated and thoroughly submerged in water. Live collembola, which float to the top, were counted in each treatment. Additional tests are needed to determine if collembola respond consistently to biochar presence or concentration.