Effects of weed density on the dispersal of Orius majusculus Reuter (Heteroptera Anthocoridae) within maize. (6th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Madeira, F.; Pons, X.
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied entomology. Volume 139:Number 9(2015)
• Page Start: 712
• Page End: 720
• Publication Date: 2015-02-06
• Subjects: Entomology -- Periodicals; Insect pests -- Periodicals; 595.7
• DOI: 10.1111/jen.12213
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0931-2048

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jen12213-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Orius majusculus</italic> Reuter (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) is the most common and abundant generalist predator in Spanish maize crops and is sensitive to drastic changes in weed density. We carried out a 2‐year study in the NE Iberian Peninsula to examine the dispersal of <italic>O. majusculus</italic> in maize plots with moderately high and low weed density. Insects were collected using yellow sticky traps and/or a bug‐vac aspirator. Dispersal was assessed using rubidium as a marker. Dispersal rate of <italic>O. majusculus</italic> differed between sampling periods, with a maximum between the 16 unfolded leaves (V16) to grain milky (R3) maize growth stages. However, we detected no differences in the distance moved by male and females of <italic>O. majusculus</italic> from rubidium‐marked areas in plots with moderately high or low weed density suggesting that changes in weed density do not affect the dispersal of <italic>O. majusculus</italic> within a maize field.</p> </abstract>