Stalk Borer Phenology, Damage Syndrome, and Yield Loss Potential in Field Corn Wayne Charles Bailey Iowa State University
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Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1985 Stalk borer phenology, damage syndrome, and yield loss potential in field corn Wayne Charles Bailey Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the Entomology Commons Recommended Citation Bailey, Wayne Charles, "Stalk borer phenology, damage syndrome, and yield loss potential in field corn " (1985). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 7817. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/7817 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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Univefsi^ Micidilms bntemational 300 N-ZMb Road AmArt»r.UI48l06 8614369 Bailey, Wayn« Châtie# STALK BORER PHENOLOGY, DAMAGE SYNDROME, AND YIELD LOSS POTENTIAL IN FIELD CORN /owe Sff ft Untvtntty PH.D. 1989 University Microfilms intârnâtionsi a»»* z***»****»*,!*,.»**»!:* stalk borer phenology, damage syndrome, and yield loss potential in field corn by Wayne Charles Bailey A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Majort Entomology Approved Signature was redacted for privacy. T^e'ilarg^'of Major^ci; Signature was redacted for privacy. Signature was redacted for privacy. For the Graduate College Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 1985 il TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION 1 LITERATURE REVIEW 3 Syjtomdtics 3 Life History and Ecology 4 PART I PHENOLOGY OF THE ADULT STALK BORER (LEPXDOPTERAi MOCTUIDAE) IN IOWA 25 ABSTRACT 26 INTRODUCTION 27 MATERIALS AND METHODS 23 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 30 Phenology and Seasonal Abundance 30 Sex Ratio 30 Color Phase 31 Mating and Heproiuctive Statue 31 PART II STALK BORER (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) INDUCED DAMAGE SYNDROME IN FIELD COR:; PLANTS 44 ABSTRACT 45 INTRODUCTION 46 MATERIALS AND METHODS 4B RESULTS 51 Stalk Tissue Yields 52 Grain Yields 52 Cob Yields 53 iii Pago Total Plant Yields 54 DISCUSSION 55 PART III REGROWTK AND YIELD RESPONSES OF CORN INJURED BY STALK BORER (LEPIDOPTERA: MOCTUIDAE) IN TERRACED FIELDS 63 ABSTRACT 64 INTRODUCTION 65 MATERIALS AND METHODS 67 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION u3 Larval Dispersion 59 Plant Population Reduction Model CD Barren Plant Model 7U Yield Model 71 Yield Responses 71 GENERAL CONCLUSIONS 79 LITERATURE CITED 32 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 33 iv LIST OP TABLES PAGE Table 1. Adult stalk borer emergence dates 20 Table 2. Predaceous insects observed to feed upon stalk borer 21 Table 3. Parasitoid species reared from stalk borer 23 Table 4. Date and accumulated centigrade degrae days (COO) for occurrence of first moth, 50» flight, and last moth 35 Table 5. Percentage and number of adult stalk borer by color phase and sex 36 Table 6. Number and percentage of female stalk borers possessing a specific number of spermatophores for 1980 through 1983 37 Table 7. Mean stalk dry weight (grams/plant) of stalk borer infested corn planto by plant location and year 59 Table 8. ttean grain dry weight (grams/plant) of stalk borer infested corn plants by plant location and year Table 9. Mean cob dry weight (grams/plant) of stalk borer infested corn plants by plant location and year 61 Table 10. Mean total dry weight (grams/plant) of stalk borer infested corn plants by plant location and year o2 Table XI. Stalk borer infestations within corn fields located adjacent to brome grass terraces 74 Table 12, I-'.oan dry weights of stalk, ear, cob, and grain yields of stalk borer infested corn plants by damage categories 75 V LIST OF FIGURES IMS. Figure 1. Adult stalk borer phenology from 1980 through 1983 39 Figure 2. Number of spormatophores (mean/female/ week) from 1980 through 1983 41 Figure 3. Adult stalk borer reproductive stage (females/status/week) from 1980 through 1983 43 Figure 4. Numbers of larval stalk borer in corn rows adjacent to brome terraces 78 1 INTRODUCTION The Noctuidae includes numerous pest insect species important to North American agriculture, included in this family of nocturnal moths is the stalk borer, Papaipema nebris Gn. This insect has long been reported as a pest of various agricultural crops, especially small grains and field corn (Decker 1931). Stalk borer damage has been sporadic in the past, although localized severe infestations were found from year to year. During the last few summers, however, reports of stalk borer infestations have increased as more acres of corn have been grown by conservation tillage methods (Rubink and McCartney 1982, Stinner et al. 1984). This increase in damage reports can be attributed to increased grass and weed infestations associated with conservation tillage fields. Because stalk borer moths preferentially select dried perennial grasses and weeds as ovipositional sites, weedy conservation tilled fields generally support greater numbers of stalk borer larvae (Stinner et al. 1994). Although Lowry (1927) and Decker (1931) authored extensive publications concerning the basic biology of the stalk borer, numerous questions remain unanswered. To better understand the importance of this insect as it applies to modern agriculture, a merging of historical and current knowledge is required. I therefore determined 2 broad qoals for ray research. The first was to review and verify existing 2 pertinent knowledge about the stalk borer. My second goal was to conduct research concerning the phenology, damage syndrome, and damage potential of this agricultural pest. To achiuve those goals my specific objectives were as follows: 1. To review the literature and verify pertinent information. 2. To determine the phenology and seasonal abundance of stalk borer moths. 3. To describe the plant damage syndrome associated with larval stalk borer infestations. 4. To determine yield loss potential of field corn plants damaged by stalk borer larvae. 3 LITERATURE REVIEW Systematics. The stalk borer, Papainema nebris (Guenee), was first described by Guenee (1852) from 5 specimens sent to France from Illinois (Lintnor 1882, Forbes 1905, Decker 1931). The white-marked-wing form of moth was described as Gortyna nebris and the unmarked-wing form as a distinct species, Gortyna nitela (Lowry 1927). This confusion existed until Riley (1881) demonstrated, through rearing experiments, that the two forms were actually varieties of the same species (Lintner 1882, Smith 1905). The generic name of the stalk borer changed frequently in the early literature between Gortyna and Hydroecia, with Papaipema emerging when Smith (1899) divided Hydroecia into two subgenera, Hydroecia and Papaipema (Decker 1931). Although Guenee (1852) gave nebris priority as the species name of the stalk borer, numerous later authors (e.g., Riley 1867, 1881; Smith 1877; Lintner 1382; Smith 1893, 1899; Bird 1398, 1902; Dyar 1902; Forbes 1905; Bruner and Swenk 1907; Franklin 1908; Washburn 1908, 1910a, 1910b) incorrectly used nitela to designate the species, because the nitela form was often in greater abundance tnan the nebris form. Additional confusion concerning the correct scientific name of the stalk borer developed when Lyman (1901) and Smith (1905) correctly used nebris as the species name, but used a genus name other than Papaipema when discussing stalk borer classification and 4 life history. Hampson (1910) corrected this inconsistency and confusion in the literature by initiating the use of Papaipema nebris (Guenee), the currently accepted scientific name of the stalk borer. Life History and Ecology. Early work on the biology of this insect was reported by Riley (1867, 1869) when ho described larval characteristics and presented a partially correct account of the stalk borer life cycle. Riley (1867, 1869) determined that stalk borers produce 1 generation annually, with larvae feeding throughout the summer. Adults were found to emerge in late summer and early autumn, but Riley (1869) erroneously reported that stalk borer moths overwinter in a state of torpor.