The effect of tillage regime, row spacing, and seeding rate on feeding damage by flea beetles, Phyllotreta spp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), in canola in central Alberta, Canada

Effects of Weeds on Selected Arthropod Herbivore and Natural Enemy Populations, and on Cotton Growth and Yield

“…Tahvanainen & Root (1972) demonstrated that intercropping interfered with host-finding and feeding behavior of the flea beetle, Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze). The habitat simplicity that results from cultivation and the absence of a diverse background may signal favorable conditions to colonizing insects like flea beetles (Root 1973;Cromartie 1975;Dosdall et al 1999), whose host-finding behavior appears to be adapted to be adapted to hosts that stand out against bare soil (Cromartie 1975).…”

Evaluation of the Role of Spacing on Yield and in the Management of Flea Beetles,Podagricaspp., Infestation in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus(L.) Moench)

“…The report, however, suggested that it may be due to the fact that flea beetles are more attracted to the reduced visual contrast between vegetation and soil that occurs at narrow row spacing. Similarly, Dosdall et al (1999) reported that flea beetle damage to Argentina canola (Brassica napus) and Polish canola (B. rapa) was lower with 30 cm row spacing than 10 or 20 cm row spacing.…”

Insect invasions of agroecosystems in the western Canadian prairies: case histories, patterns, and implications for ecosystem function

“…A noteworthy recent development is the availability of wheat germplasm resistant to wheat midge, which promises to drastically reduce insecticide applications (Lamb et al 2002;Smith et al 2004). In the case of flea beetles, attempts to achieve host plant resistance and classical biological control have been unsuccessful, but several cultural practices have been developed that can be implemented in an integrated manner to substantially reduce insecticide use in some ecoregions (Dosdall et al 1999;Dosdall and Stevenson 2005;Elliott et al 2008). An early management success for controlling infestations of the wheat stem sawfly occurred in the 1940s with the development of solid-stemmed wheat (Platt and Farstad 1949), but additional complementary strategies including cultural and biological methods have since been developed that can be integrated with host plant resistance (Luginbill and McNeal 1958;Morrill et al 2001;Meers 2005;Weaver et al 2005).…”