Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Attractiveness and injury levels of adults by Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Le Conte) on different host plant

Author(s):

Raluca Trusca *, Ioana Grozea, Ramona Stef

Recieved Date: 2013-05-07, Accepted Date: 2013-10-22

Abstract:

Diabrotica virgifera virgifera Le Conte (1858) or Western corn rootworm is a very serious pest, originating from North America. It is currently present in Eastern and Central European agricultural areas, especially in corn fields. Besides favoured host plant, corn, the adult beetles may also feed with other agricultural plants. They can cause the damage on leaves, flowers, pollen and silk by characteristic injuries. The full range of host plants of this chrysomelid is the purpose of this study. The experiment took place in a mixed field in Western Romania, using two types of cages (CtI and CtII). Among nine plants species belonging to different families (Poaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Leguminosae, Asteraceae), the most affected were cucurbit species. Its attractiveness was detached to flowers over leaves, perhaps because of cucurbitacin compounds, yellow colour and large area offered for consumption. Corn plants were injured especially in the ear (silk) or panicle (pollen) and the other plants under study (bean, soybean and sunflower) were affected the flowers, too. Compared to other Chrysomelids, beetles from Diabrotica genus change their preferences depending on the plant species. The evaluation of the injury level (using the scale of 0-4) has been influenced especially by the foliar or flowery surface. Most of the leaves and flowers (silk) had values of the injury between 1 and 2, meaning between 1-25% and 26-50%. Anyway, feeding on leaves is not considered a serious issue but their feeding on inflorescences is a problem.

Keywords:

Insect pest, Diabrotica virgifera, feeding preference, host plants, injury level

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2013
Volume: 11
Issue: 3&4
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 773-776

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