Intercrop movement of convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), between adjacent cotton and alfalfa

Abstract

A 2-year study was conducted to characterize the intercrop movement of convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia convergens Guerin-Meneville (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) between adjacent cotton and alfalfa. A dual protein-marking method was used to assess the intercrop movement of the lady beetles in each crop. In turns field collected lady beetles in each crop were assayed by protein specific ELISA to quantify the movement of beetles between the crops. Results indicated that a high percentage of convergent lady beetles caught in cotton (46% in 2008; 56% in 2009) and alfalfa (46% in 2008; 71% in 2009) contained a protein mark, thus indicating that convergent lady beetle movement was largely bidirectional between the adjacent crops. Although at a much lower proportion, lady beetles also showed unidirectional movement from cotton to alfalfa (5% in 2008 and 6% in 2009) and from alfalfa to cotton (9% in 2008 and 14% in 2009). The season-long bidirectional movement exhibited by the beetles was significantly higher in alfalfa than cotton during both years of the study. The total influx of lady beetles (bidirectional and unidirectional combined) was significantly higher in alfalfa compared with that in cotton for both years. While convergent lady beetles moved between adjacent cotton and alfalfa, they were more attracted to alfalfa when cotton was not flowering and/or when alfalfa offered more opportunities for prey. This study offers much needed information on intercrop movement of the convergent lady beetle that should facilitate integrated pest management decisions in cotton utilizing conservation biological control.

Predator demographics and dispersal in alfalfa trap‐cropped strawberry

“…obs.). Bastola et al (2014) similarly reported that although alfalfa acted as a sink for H. convergens (relative to cotton), bidirectional lady beetle movement between these two crops was common and influenced by relative prey availability.…”

Effects of cover crops on beetle assemblages in tea plantations

“…Since the densities of both pests and their natural enemies are influenced by the surrounding vegetation, it is reasonable to manage this environment to enhance biocontrol services if possible (Bastola et al, 2016;Li et al, 2016a;Gurr et al, 2016Gurr et al, , 2017. Indeed, intercropping with a variety of cover crops has been used in many crop systems to enhance the action of beneficial organisms.…”

Characterization of Intercrop Movement of <em>Lygus hesperus</em> between Cotton and Alfalfa

“…Moreover, physical markers should be environmentally safe, scalable, cost-effective, and easy to use (Hagler & Jackson, 2001). Techniques involving insect protein marking and subsequent detection using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) have been used successfully in studies involving insects such as Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Méneville (convergent lady beetle) (Bastola et al, 2016;Hagler, 2004;Hagler & Naranjo, 2004), Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (pink bollworm) (Hagler & Miller, 2002), Cacopsylla pyricola Foerster (pear psylla) (Jones, Hagler, Brunner, Baker & Wilburn, 2006), Pieris rapae L. (cabbage worm) (Schmaedick, Ling, Gonsalves & Shelton, 2001), and thrips species Thrips tabaci Lindeman and Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Jasrotia & Ben-Yakir, 2006). Thus, it is presumed that this technique may prove satisfactory in evaluating L. hesperus intercrop movement in the Texas High Plains.…”