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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Southern Insect Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #301720
Title: Hophornbeam copperleaf, an example wild host for Helicoverpa zea

Author
item Luttrell, Randall
item Little, Nathan
item Allen, Clint

Submitted to: National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2014
Publication Date: 3/1/2014
Citation: Luttrell, R.G., Little, N., Allen, K.C. 2014. Hophornbeam copperleaf, an example wild host for Helicoverpa zea. National Cotton Council Beltwide Cotton Conference. Proceedings of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences January 6-8, 2014 New Orleans, LA p.693-698.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Populations of Helicovepa zea (Boddie)and Heliothis virescens (Fabricies)were commonly found on hophornbeam copperleaf, Acalpha ostryaefolia, in Arkansas and Mississippi. From 2002-2009, more than 25 colonies of H. zea were established from collections made on the wild host plant. One colony of H. virescens was made from hophornbeam copperleaf in Arkansas. More recent collections from hophornbeam copperleaf in Mississippi include both H. zea and H. virescens, but H. virescens appears to be more common in the recent Mississippi collections. The plant is commonly infested. Densities vary but can be as great as one larva per sweep. Larvae of both heliothine species were heavily parasitized but more than 50% of collected larvae survived to the adult stage. Hophornbeam copperleaf appears to be a preferred host. Based on our general observations, patches of hophornbeam copperleaf appears to be abundant and widely distributed in the agricultural landscape. More quantification is needed, but if this is correct and densities are as great as those we observed, hophornbeam copperleaf may be an important host in sustaining refuge populations outside of cultivated crops.