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Dispersal and behavior of adult European corn borer in and around corn
Abstract
The European corn borer (ECB) is a major pest of corn. Although there is considerable information on ECB movement and behavior, local dispersal of ECB is not clearly understood. An understanding of ECB movement is required to develop and implement resistance management protocols and management strategies for ECB. Mark-release-recapture studies were conducted to: (1) examine local dispersal and behavior of adult ECB in and around corn; (2) compare the results to the model of ECB movement in Iowa; and (3) evaluate the current ECB/Bt corn resistance management approach. Marked ECB were released in an irrigated and a non-irrigated cornfield and recaptured in light traps positioned within and proximal to the fields. Significantly more ECB were recaptured within the irrigated field than outside. Most, including unmated females, were recaptured 3.1 m from their release site. Moths dispersed out of and away from the non-irrigated field, although significantly more, including two unmated females, were recaptured within the field than outside. Marked ECB were released in cornfields of differing plant stage and recaptured in light traps positioned around the fields at distances ranging from 61 in to 2,826 m. A common model could not be fit to all eight dispersal data sets. Adult ECB dispersal differed by release date, crop phenology, sex, and female mating status. Mean recapture distances were shortest for unmated females, followed by mated females, then males. Dispersal was independent of direction. Habitat preferences were examined by releasing moths along the edge of an irrigated cornfield and recapturing them in traps positioned within the field and in grass outside the field. There were no significant differences in the numbers of males or unmated females recaptured within or outside of the field. Mating success was examined by placing males and unmated females in large mating cages in dense foxtail and corn and allowed to mate for one night. There were no significant differences in mating frequency between locations. Dispersal of ECB was found to be different than the current ECB movement model suggests. Variability in ECB dispersal limits the utility of a single, region-wide resistance management approach utilizing spatially separate refuges.
Subject Area
Entomology|Agronomy
Recommended Citation
Hunt, Thomas Elliott, "Dispersal and behavior of adult European corn borer in and around corn" (1999). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9929205.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9929205