Many wine-growing regions worldwide are also biodiversity hotspots, including California, which supports an unparalleled endemic insect fauna. However, the insect communities that colonize vineyards are poorly described. A subset of vineyard-dwelling insect species are likely to protect grapevines from pests through biological control.

REU students will collect and describe the biodiversity in California vineyards, testing the hypothesis that vineyards surrounded by natural vegetation support a higher diversity of predatory species that control vine pests. This project will contribute important information to grape growers facing climate change and increasing fire pressure on natural vegetation.