The potential to manipulate the numbers of insects in lucerne by strip cutting

Authors: Hossain, Z¹; Gurr, Gm¹; Wratten, Sd²

Source: Australian Journal of Entomology, Volume 39, Number 1, February 2000 , pp. 39-41(3)

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Abstract:

Uncut strips of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) were evaluated as refuges for natural enemies of pests in lucerne hay crops. Vacuum catches of seven species of predator were significantly greater in uncut strips than in cut control areas on as many as six of seven sample dates over three harvests. Catches of pest larvae (Helicoverpa spp.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) were consistently lower in the natural enemy refuges than in regrowth 16 or more days after harvest. Further work with larger plot sizes is warranted.

Keywords: conservation biological control; Helicoverpa; lucerne; shelter; strip harvesting

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-6055.2000.00132.x

Affiliations: 1: Orange Agricultural College, The University of Sydney, PO Box 883, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia ( Email:, Email: zhossain@oac.usyd.edu.au 2: Division of Plant, Soil and Ecological Sciences, PO Box 84, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Publication date: 2000-02-01