ARS | Publication request: Dolatia Coriaria (Kraatz) (Coleoptera:Staphylinidae) as a pest of laboratory and greenhouse colonies of the western corn rootworm (Coleoptera:Chrysomelidae)

Submitted to: Journal of Kansas Entomological Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: September 22, 2009
Publication Date: December 22, 2009
Citation: Meihls, L., Hibbard, B.E. 2009. Dolatia Coriaria (Kraatz) (Coleoptera:Staphylinidae) as a Pest of Laboratory and Greenhouse Colonies of the Western Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera:Chrysomelidae). Journal of Kansas Entomological Society. 82:311-315.

Interpretive Summary: The western corn rootworm is a serious pest of corn in north-central North America and parts of Europe. Our group routinely rears a number of western corn rootworm colonies, however, recent observations of Dolatia coriaria adults and larvae in rootworm rearing containers were correlated with a decline of western corn rootworm larval populations and adult emergence. To evaluate the potential of D. coriaria to feed on the western corn rootworm, ten newly hatched western corn rootworm larvae were placed with 0, 1, 5 or 10 D. coriaria adults for 4 hours. All treatments involving D. coriaria adults had significantly higher mortality of western corn rootworm larvae than the control with zero D. coriaria adults. In treatments containing 5 or 10 adult D. coriaria, 100% mortality of western corn rootworm larvae was achieved. Researchers rearing the western corn rootworm need to be aware that D. coriaria are capable of causing serious problems in their colonies. It is also possible that the species could be useful in biological control efforts to manage the western corn rootworm.

Technical Abstract: Not required for 'short communication' by the Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society.