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Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6” x 9” black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMI A Bell & Howell Information Company 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor MI 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 ROLE OF PREDATORS IN SUPPRESSION OF THE EUROPEAN CORN BORER, OSTRINIA NUBILALIS (HUBNER), ON SWEET CORN. DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of the Ohio State University By Sandra Alcaraz, M.S. The Ohio State University 1996 Dissertation Commitree: Approved by C. Welty R. Hall R. Lindquist R. Williams Adviser Department of Entomology Co-Advisor Department of Entomology UMI Number; 9710517 UMI Microform 9710517 Copyright 1997, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Copyright by Sandra Alcaraz 1996 ABSTRACT Four experiments were conducted to study the role of predators in the control of European corn borer {Ostrinla nubllalis (Hûbner)) on sweet c o m and possible methods for enhancing predator activity. A commercial predator food attractant was used in combination with different formulations of conventional and microbial insecticides in a field experiment with early and late plantings of sweet corn in 19 93, 1994, and 1995. The predator food attractant alone or combined with Bacillus thuringiensis treatment did not consistently affect density of coccinellid or anthocorid predators or ear quality at harvest. The types of functional response from predators to varying densities of eggs and first instars of European corn borer were studied in a laboratory experiment. With few exceptions, the predators Coleomegilla maculaca (DeGeer) , Orius insidiosus (Say) , and Chrysoperla camea Stephens had a type II functional response to both eggs and first instars. Releases of C. maculata and O. insidiosus either alone or together on individually caged sweet corn plants were evaluated to determine their ability to search for and consume eggs and first instars of European corn borer. Results showed that C. Maculata has more potential than O. insidiosus for further studies on inundative releases for control of European corn borer. C. camea eggs and larvae were field released on sweet corn to 11 evaluate its potential as a biological control agent. Adequate control was not achieved with any of various rates and timings tested. Potential use of C. maculata for commercial releases will depend on improvements in mass rearing and in predator release technology, and basic field studies for control of the European corn borer. Ill To mv ramilv IV ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am indebted to my major adviser. Dr. Celeste Welty, for her support not only as an academic adviser but also as a friend through difficult times. Without her guidance and patience, this work would not have been completed. I want to thank all the members of my Graduate Advisory Committee, Drs. Richard Hall, Richard Lindquist, and Roger Williams for their comm.ents on my dissertation. I appreciate the advice given by Dr. S. Juliano on functional response. I thank Dr. J. Cbrycki for providing me with Coleomegilla maculata specimens and Ms. Jean Dyar for supplying me with European corn borer egg masses. I want to acknowledge Rhône-Poulenc, Abbott, and FI4C for donation of products used in this study. I thank Ken Scaife and Mark Schmittgen for maintaining fields and applying treatments. I also thank Karen Magnuson for her assistance with field work and her friendship. I would like to acknowledge the help given by the students that worked with me during the last three years in the field and the laboratory. Finally, I would like to thank my husband, for his continued support and love, and my daughters Juliana and Marcela who have been understanding of my work and for whom I am finishing this chapter of my life. VITA May 6, 1961.................. Born Armero, Colombia 1984 ......................... B.S., Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Bogota, Colombia 1992......................... M. S., The Ohio State University, Columbus,Ohio 1992 - present.............. Graduate Research Associate, Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio FIELD OF STUDY Major field: Entomology VI TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.......................................................... ii DEDICATION......................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.................................................... v VITA............................................................... Vi TABLE OF CONTENTS.................................................. vii LIST OF TABLES..................................................... ix LIST OF FIGURES.................................................... xi INTRODUCTION....................................................... 1 CHAPTER I. PREDATOR CONSERVATION AND AUGMENTATION PRACTICES FOR SWEET CORN PEST MANAGEMENT............................ 4 Introduction...................................... 4 Materials and Methods............................ 6 Results........................................... 13 Discussion........................................ 24 II. FUNCTIONAL RESPONSE OF Coleomegilla maculata (DeGeer) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), AND Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) TO EGGS AND FIRST INSTARS of Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)............................................. 4 9 Introduction...................................... 49 Materials and Methods............................ 51 Results........................................... 57 Discussion........................................ 63 III. CAGE RELEASES OF Coleomegilla maculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) AND Orius insidiosus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) FOR CONTROL OF Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).......... .................. 84 Introduction..................................... 84 Materials and Methods........................... 85 Results.......................................... 85 Discussion....................................... 87 IV. FIELD RELEASES OF Chrysoperla carnea Stephens (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) EGGS AND LARVAE FOR PREDATION ON Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) ON SWEET CORN.......................................... 91 V I 1 Introduction...................................... 91 Materials and Methods............................ 92 Results........................................... 94 Discussion........................................ 97 BIBLIOGRAPHY...................................................... 103 v i n LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE 1.1. Effect of treatments on beneficial arthropod (mean number per plant) populations on sweet corn at Columbus and Fremont Ohio in early sweet corn plantings in 1993, 1994, and 1995......... 29 1.2. Effect of treatments on beneficial arthropod (mean number per plant) populations on sweet corn at Columbus and Fremont Ohio in late sweet corn plantings in 1993, 1994, and 1995........... 31 1.3. Percentage marketable ears (strict and liberal standards) and percentage ears infested with European corn borer (ECB), corn earworm (CEW), and fall armyworm (FAWj at harvest of early sweet corn plantings in 1993, 1994, and 1995........... 33 1.4. Percentage marketable ears (strict and liberal standards) and percentage ears infested with European corn borer (ECB), corn earworm (CEW), and fall armyworm (FAW) at harvest of late sweet corn plantings in 1993, 1994, and 1995............ 35 1.5. Interaction of location by treatment for percentage marketable ears (strict and liberal standards) and percentage ears infested with European corn borer (ECB), corn earworm (CEW), and fall armyworm (FAW) at harvest of early sweet corn plantings in 1993, 1994, and 1995............................ 35 1.5. Interaction of location by treatment for percentage marketable ears (strict and liberal standards) and percentage ears infested with European corn borer (ECB), corn earworm (CEW), and fall armyworm (FAW) at harvest time of late sweet corn plantings in 1993, 1994, and 1995............................ 38 1.7. Treatment means for marketable ears and P values (in parenthesis) of significant