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Adult activity and oviposition of corn rootworms, D iabrotica spp. ( C oleoptera: C hrysomelidae), in M iscanthus, corn and switchgrass
Author(s) -
Prasifka J. R.,
Spencer J. L.,
Tinsley N. A.,
Estes R. E.,
Gray M. E.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of applied entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1439-0418
pISSN - 0931-2048
DOI - 10.1111/jen.12050
Subject(s) - biology , panicum virgatum , agronomy , western corn rootworm , pest analysis , perennial plant , field corn , crop , context (archaeology) , biomass (ecology) , poaceae , integrated pest management , zea mays , bioenergy , ecology , botany , biofuel , paleontology
The ability of the biomass crop M iscanthus ( M iscanthus × giganteus G reef and D euter ex H odkinson and R envoize) to support larval development for both U nited S tates and E uropean populations of the western corn rootworm, D iabrotica virgifera virgifera L e C onte, suggests an avenue for interactions with corn ( Z ea mays L .). To provide context to survival of D . v. virgifera on M iscanthus, adult activity and oviposition of D iabrotica spp. were monitored in central Illinois in 2010–2011 in M iscanthus, corn and switchgrass ( P anicum virgatum L .). For D . v. virgifera , vial traps within corn plots captured 3–10 times as many adults as in M iscanthus or switchgrass, while soil samples showed females laid approximately 10 times as many eggs in corn as in the perennial grasses. Adult southern corn rootworms, D iabrotica undecimpunctata howardi B arber , were the most abundant species in 2010 and clearly preferred switchgrass as an adult habitat, with vial traps in switchgrass capturing 5–10 times as many D . u. howardi as those in corn or M iscanthus. Based on the small production areas for M iscanthus and switchgrass (and low use of both by D . v. virgifera ), it seems likely that there are no current impacts of these perennial grasses on pest status of D iabrotica spp. in corn or other crops. However, adaptations by D iabrotica spp. to pest management practices suggest they could be a source for interactions between biomass and food or feed crops. Early‐season soil samples did not recover eggs of D . u. howardi , but their use of switchgrass as an adult habitat suggests additional research in areas where switchgrass may be grown near peanuts, alfalfa or other hosts may be needed. Also, investigation of other candidate bioenergy crops known to support D iabrotica spp. larval development is needed to better understand the possible effects of a changing agricultural landscape on corn rootworms.