Manage rice field banks to benefit butterflies and moths

Overall effectiveness category Awaiting assessment
Number of studies: 1
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Effectiveness

not assessed
Certainty

not assessed
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Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Rice paddy fields are unusual among agricultural habitats as they normally have banks as field boundaries (rather than hedgerows, walls or ditches). The banks are often managed to reduce vegetation cover, either by spraying with herbicide or by mechanical cutting (Giuliano et al. 2018). However, reduced management may enable vegetation cover to develop and flower abundance to increase, which may benefit butterflies and moths.

^{Giuliano D., Cardarelli E. & Bogliani G. (2018) Grass management intensity affects butterfly and orthopteran diversity on rice field banks. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 267, 147–155.}

Study locations

Key messages

One study evaluated the effects on butterflies and moths of managing rice field banks to benefit butterflies and moths. This study was in Italy.

COMMUNITY RESPONSE (1 STUDY)

Richness/diversity (1 study): One replicated, site comparison study in Italy found that unmown, herbicide-free rice field banks had a greater species richness of butterflies than banks which were mown or sprayed with herbicide.

POPULATION RESPONSE (1 STUDY)

Abundance (1 study): One replicated, site comparison study in Italy found that unmown, herbicide-free rice field banks had a higher abundance of butterflies, including large copper, than banks which were mown or sprayed with herbicide.

BEHAVIOUR (0 STUDIES)

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A replicated, site comparison study in 2016 on three rice farms in Pavia province, Italy (Giuliano et al 2018) found that unmown, herbicide-free rice field banks had a higher abundance and species richness of butterflies than banks which were mown or sprayed with herbicide. On unmanaged banks, the abundance (1.2–12.2 individuals/100 m) and species richness (0.7–2.6 species/100 m) of butterflies was higher than on mown (abundance: 0.5–6.1 individuals/100 m; richness: 0.4–2.0 species/100 m) or sprayed banks (abundance: 0.1–2.3 individuals/100 m; richness: 0.1–1.1 species/100 m). Endangered large copper Lycaena dispar butterflies were present on more unmanaged banks (48 individuals) than on sprayed banks (10 individuals). See paper for other species results. Banks (1–2 m wide) between paddy fields on three farms were managed in one of three ways: sprayed with herbicide (Glyphosate) in April, mown 1–3 times between late April and August, or left unmanaged with permanent herbaceous cover. From April–September 2016, butterflies were surveyed monthly on 160–440-m-long transects on 30 field banks (13 sprayed, 13 mown, four unmanaged).
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Giuliano D., Cardarelli E. & Bogliani G. (2018) Grass management intensity affects butterfly and orthopteran diversity on rice field banks. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 267, 147-155.

Please cite as:

Bladon A.J., Smith R.K. & Sutherland W.J. (2022) Butterfly and Moth Conservation: Global Evidence for the Effects of Interventions for butterflies and moths. Conservation Evidence Series Synopsis. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Butterfly and Moth Conservation

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