The Colorado potato beetle in movement

Abstract

The recent introduction of the concept of refuge areas for the management of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae), on resistant potato highlighted the existence of important gaps in our knowledge and understanding of this pest's movement within and between habitats. The objective of this review is to synthesize the information available for the benefit of crop managers and to identify subject areas in need of additional research. A traditional, somewhat encyclopedic, review of the old and recent literature on research methods, basics of flight and walking, as well as abiotic and biotic conditions for dispersal, revealed a considerable volume of information accumulated since the early 1900s. There is a consensus on the role of abiotic factors on flight and walking, but a better understanding of the biotic factors will be required before the variability of the dispersal response can be fully explained or predicted. Cybernetic models of orientation proposed in the literature were pulled together into a schematic representation of the orientation process in walking L. decemlineata. The model begins the integration of the different conditions and underlying suggested mechanisms responsible for the orientation of the walking beetle. There is remarkably little information on the orientation of potato beetles during flight. Finally, the seasonality of walking and flight dispersal is reviewed in relation to the host habitat and overwintering sites.

Harmonic Radar: Assessing the Impact of Tag Weight on Walking Activity of Colorado Potato Beetle, Plum Curculio, and Western Corn Rootworm

“…In the case of the Colorado potato beetle, dispersal by walking is especially important for the colonization of rotated potato Þelds in the spring, foraging movements in the summer, and for their migration from a wide geographical area in late summer to overwintering sites (Weber and Ferro 1994;Boiteau et al 2003).…”

Vertical distribution profile of Colorado potato beetle [Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae] in flight above host, resistant host and non-host fields

“…This low propensity of adult CPB to take flight is characteristic of many Coleopterans (Dudley 2000) and makes it difficult to study free flight of the insect. As a consequence, research on CPB flight dispersal has been neglected, relative to walking, and is generally based on tethered flight tests (Boiteau et al 2003). …”

“…Flight accounts for 10% to 50% of recruitment in new potato plantings each yr (Boiteau 2001) and allows adult CPB to disperse within and between fields faster than by walking (Boiteau et al 2003). Understanding CPB flight and dispersal is important in preventing and managing infestations (Weber and Ferro 1996) and the evolution of resistance to insecticides or resistant cultivars (Alyokhin and Ferro 1999).…”

Managing the Colorado potato beetle; the need for resistance breeding

“…It starts with adult CPB overwintering in the soil for a period that can be as short as 30 days (Capinera 2001). After emerging in the spring adults disperse by walking and flying to their host (Boiteau et al 2003). The CPB is a polygamous species, with both males and females performing multiple copulations with different partners (Alyokhin et al 2013).…”

“…Its life-cycle comprises a quiescent pre-pupal stage before pupation (Hare 1990). Adult emerge from pupation, after 5-7 days (Tauber et al 1988;Boiteau and LeBlanc 1992). Depending on temperature, photoperiod, and host plant condition, adults may mate, migrate, cease feeding or enter diapause (Voss and Ferro 1990).…”