Authors: Montemayor, Cecil O.; Cave, Ronald D.

Source: Journal of Economic Entomology, Volume 105, Number 5, Pages 1477-1870 , pp. 1719-1725(7)

Publisher: Entomological Society of America

Abstract:

The predation capacity of the spined soldier bug, Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), was evaluated at three release rates in field cages containing larvae of the yellowmargined leaf beetle, Microtheca ochroloma Stål (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a pest of organic crucifer (Brassicaceae) crops in the United States. The experiment was conducted twice, in February-March 2009 and in February-March 2010. On the same day as the introduction of 132 first instars of M. ochroloma into the cages, four (=low), 10 (=medium), or 16 (=high) first instars of P. maculiventris were released evenly among six turnip (Brassica rapa L.) plants in cages. Control treatment cages received no predators. In 2009, the mean number of M. ochroloma larvae declined progressively during the first four sampling dates. On the final (seventh) sampling date, the mean numbers of total M. ochroloma in the two higher release-rate treatments were significantly lower than in the low release-rate and control treatments. Overall survivorship of P. maculiventris was 39.1% in the high release-rate treatment. In 2010, the mean number of M. ochroloma larvae declined progressively during the first four sampling dates. On the fourth sampling date and the final (ninth) sampling date, there were no significant differences among treatments involving predator releases. The lowest overall survivorship of P. maculiventris (3.1%) was in the high release-rate treatment. Two tentative recommendations for growers emerged from this study: 1) release 10 first instars of P. maculiventris per six plants if the plants are expected to have ≥7 leaves per plant; or 2) release four first instars of P. maculiventris per six plants if the plants are expected to have ≤6 leaves per plant.

Keywords: yellowmargined leaf beetle; field predation; spined soldier bug; crucifer; grower recommendation

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/EC11386

Publication date: 2012-10-01

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.
• Editorial Board
• Submit a Paper
• Subscribe to this Title
• Information for Advertisers
• Visit this journal's homepage
• ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Entomology
• By this author: Montemayor, Cecil O. ;  Cave, Ronald D.

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers