Biology of the Billbug Sphenophorus venatus confluens, a New Pest of Orchardgrass^1,2

Author: KAMM, JAMES A.

Source: Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 62, Number 4, August 1969 , pp. 808-812(5)

Publisher: Entomological Society of America

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Abstract:

A detailed study of the seasonal cycle of Sphenophorus venatus confluents Chittenden, a new pest of orchard grass, was conducted at Corvallis, Oregon, in 1967-68. Over- wintering adults began to feed in March. Mating and oviposition occurred throughout May, and by mid-June large numbers of eggs had been deposited in the stems and on the leaf sheaths of the orchard grass. The young larvae fed inside the stems or on the leaves as they worked their way down the roots where the larval stage was completed. Pupation occurred the crowns of orchard grass, and by October the majority of billbugs were adults. Feeding damage by early-instars larvae had little or no effect on the yield of the current year's seed crop, since the orchard grass was near maturity by July. However, larval feeding on the roots during July and August reduced the yields the following year. Currently, S. v. confluents is an economic pest only in orchard grass, although bent grass and bluegrass are satisfactory hosts.

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 1969-08-01

More about this publication?

Journal of Economic Entomology is published bimonthly in February, April, June, August, October, and December. The journal publishes articles on the economic significance of insects and is divided into the following sections: apiculture & social insects; arthropods in relation to plant disease; forum; insecticide resistance and resistance management; ecotoxicology; biological and microbial control; ecology and behavior; sampling and biostatistics; household and structural insects; medical entomology; molecular entomology; veterinary entomology; forest entomology; horticultural entomology; field and forage crops, and small grains; stored-product; commodity treatment and quarantine entomology; and plant resistance. In addition to research papers, Journal of Economic Entomology publishes Letters to the Editor, interpretive articles in a Forum section, Short Communications, Rapid Communications, and Book Reviews.
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