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Increased Success of the Mexican Bean Beetle on Field‐Grown Soybeans Exposed to Sulfur Dioxide
Author(s) -
Hughes P. R.,
Dickie A. I.,
Penton M. A.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1983.00472425001200040027x
Subject(s) - fumigation , biology , crop , larva , agronomy , coccinellidae , horticulture , toxicology , botany , ecology , predation , predator
Field‐planted ‘Hodgson’ soybeans [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] were enclosed in screened cages and fumigated intermittently with SO 2 by means of a tube fumigation system. The concentration of SO 2 averaged 367 µ g m −3 for 191 h over a 68‐d period, giving a seasonal average of 42 µ g m −3 . One week after fumigation began, six pairs of newly emerged Mexican bean beetle adults ( Epilachna varivestis ) were introduced into each of the cages. In less than one generation time, the mean number of progeny from these beetles feeding on fumigated plants was 1.5 times greater than that of the beetles feeding on control plants. Larval growth was also significantly greater on the fumigated plants, especially for females. These crop × insect interactions which occur at low intermittent doses of SO 2 increase the potential impact of the insects on crop production.