3.12 Insects
accounts of butterfy species, including information on habitat, range, conservation, management need, global rank, and references.
• Conserving Bumble Bees. Guidelines for Creating and Managing Habitat for America’s Declining Pollinators (Hatfeld et al. 2012) . Available from the Xerces Society web page http://www.xerces.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/conserving_bb.pdf.
3.12.7 Recommendations In general, protection and restoration of natural community composition and function and protection of surrounding natural areas under current conditions are the best ways to ensure suitable habitats are available for insect species. Measures that protect a large and diverse pool of populations are the best way to ensure that species are able to survive future stresses and adapt to changing climate conditions. Surveys. Distributional and status surveys need to focus on species believed to be declin- ing or mainly dependent on at-risk or sensitive natural communities. Surveys are needed for all “insect” species. Research. Research topics that facilitate appropriate conservation actions include habitat use and preferences, reproductive behavior, fecundity, population dynamics and genetics, feeding, competition, and food web dynamics. Increased understanding of life histories and status helps determine the vulnerability of priority species to further imperilment, in addition to identifying possibilities for improved management and conservation. All stud- ies should provide recommendations for mitigation and restoration. Formal descriptions for known or putative undescribed species and investigations aimed at resolving taxo- nomic status are needed. Management Practices. Management practices that reduce impacts and work synergis- tically with other conservation actions are needed to enhance the resilience of natural resources. Particular needs include preserving biodiversity, protecting native populations and their habitats, and improving degraded habitats.
• Avoid using systemic pesticides such as neonicotinoids (Hatfeld et al. 2012 ).
• When possible, encourage use of species-specifc insecticides to minimize nontarget impacts (Lee-Mader et al. 2014) . Nontarget impacts, particularly to rare species, also need to be carefully assessed any time pesticides (or biological control agents) are applied to natural areas.
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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