Insect composition of a switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) monoculture in South Carolina

Switchgrass, Panicum virgatum L., is being investigated as a potential biofuel crop for ethanol production in South Carolina. Research on the production of switchgrass as a biofuel crop has mainly involved breeding for improved biomass yield, and developing practices for nitrogen fertilization, weed control, and harvest. An aspect that has been less studied is the impact of insects on switchgrass growth. A field experiment was established at the Pee Dee Research and Education Center in Florence (South Carolina), to determine changes in insect diversity as the switchgrass plant grows and weed diversity and abundance changes. Insects were monitored throughout the season for three years using pitfall trapping, sweeping and soil sampling. Weed diversity, switchgrass and weed density also were quantified. Insects commonly found belong to the orders Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Hemiptera, Collembola and Hymenoptera. Weed diversity decreased as switchgrass plants grew.