Location: Southeast Watershed Research
Title: Landscape and host plant effects on two important omnivorous arthropod taxa in field cropsAuthor
Olson, Dawn | |
ZEILINGER, ADAM - University Of California | |
PRESCOTT, KRISTINA - University Of Minnesota | |
Coffin, Alisa | |
RUBERSON, JOHN - Kansas State University | |
ANDOW, DAVID - University Of Minnesota |
Submitted to: Entomological Society of America, Southwestern and Southeastern Branch
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 1/5/2018 Publication Date: 3/5/2018 Citation: Olson, D.M., Zeilinger, A., Prescott, K., Coffin, A.W., Ruberson, J., Andow, D. 2018. Landscape and host plant effects on two important omnivorous arthropod taxa in field crops [abstract]. Entomological Society of America, Southwestern and Southeastern Branch. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: The economically important brown stink bug, Euschistus servus (Say), is a native pest of many crops in southeastern USA and insecticide applications are the prevailing method of population suppression. To elucidate biological control of E. servus populations, we investigated two egg predators’ (red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren, and Geocoris spp.) responses to both local and landscape factors that may have influenced their combined ability to cause mortality in immature E. servus and to identify potential ways to increase their biological control efficacy. We investigated the influence of landscape and field-scale factors on the density of fire ants and Geocoris spp. on four major crop hosts—maize, peanut, cotton and soybean—in landscapes over three years in the coastal plain of Georgia USA. Both Geocoris spp. and fire ant populations were concentrated on specific crops in this study: maize and soybean for Geocoris spp. and peanut and cotton for fire ants, but the percentage area of specific crops and woodland and pasture in the landscape and year also influenced their density in focal fields. The differential and crop specific density of both taxa, the influence of the percentage area of specific crops and woodland in the landscape, and the variability in density over years may have been related to variable alternative resources for these omnivorous species in the habitats, and the variable and extreme weather conditions that occurred over the duration of this study. Despite the variability over years, the differential habitat use of fire ants and Georcoris spp. may have contributed to their combined ability to cause E. servus immature mortality. The possibility of altering crop management to further increase the density and efficacy of these omnivores in pest control is discussed. |