Trichogramma Brassicae and SLAM®, an Integrated Approach to Managing European Corn Borer and Corn Rootworms

Abstract

European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hu¨bner) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae); western corn rootworm (WCRW), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte; and northern corn rootworm (NCRW), Diabrotica barberi (Smith & Lawrence) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) are important pests of corn, Zea mays L., that occur simultaneously in the US Corn Belt. Areawide management strategies for northern and western corn rootworm in Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota, Illinois, and Indiana, and for the Mexican strain in Texas, use SLAM Ò , which contains cucurbitacin, a feeding stimulant, and a small amount of the insecticide carbaryl. This management strategy is environmentally sound because it introduces a substantially lesser amount of chemical insecticide into the environment than prophylactic soil insecticide applications for WCRW management. To develop a management program for both corn pests, the compatibility of SLAM Ò to control CRW, along with a biological agent to manage European corn borer, was investigated. Laboratory studies were conducted using the egg parasitoid Trichogramma brassicae (Bezdenko) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). In experiments in which SLAM Ò and T. brassicae were evaluated as components of a management system, SLAM Ò did not affect parasitism or parasitoid emergence rates. Trichogramma brassicae displayed vigorous biotic fitness, emergence rates, sex ratios, and fecundity over the duration of the study. Data collected under these laboratory conditions indicated that SLAM Ò had no adverse effect on the quality of T. brassicae, indicated by its ability to reproduce in the filial generation.

Chemical control of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte

“…In contrast, at the Indiana and Illinois AWPM programme using SLAM or Invite did not consistently reduce root damage and beetle emergence nor increased yield (Gerber et al 2005). In Texas, SLAM is recommended against the Mexican rootworm strain (Lewis et al 2005). Data from the latter publication indicated the possibility of using SLAM against D. v. virgifera in combination with Trichogramma brassicae (Bezdenko), a parasitoid released for control of the European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis (Hü bner); under laboratory conditions SLAM did not cause adverse effects on the quality of T. brassicae, as long as the parasitoid did not come in contact with wet SLAM.…”

On-farm evaluation of inundative biological control of Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) by Trichogramma brassicae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) in three European maize-producing regions

“…Several studies have been performed worldwide, the majority in the United States, with an overall positive evaluation of the efficacy of mass release of Trichogramma spp. against corn borers in maize, alone or in combination with insecticide applications . However, to our knowledge, apart from some country‐specific studies, robust evidence of the sustainability of Trichogramma spp.…”

Evaluation of Cucurbitacin-Based Gustatory Stimulant to Facilitate Cucumber Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Management With Foliar Insecticides in Melons

“…When used in cantaloupe, both dry bait and ßowable bait reduced beetle numbers comparable to that of a foliar carbaryl spray (Brust and Foster 1995). Additionally, the relatively low concentration of insecticides present in cucurbitacin baits enabled them to be used effectively against adult corn rootworms while not inhibiting the use of natural enemies to control other pests in maize (Lewis et al 2005).…”