A novel method for estimating soybean herbivory in western corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Nicholas J. Seiter, Douglas S. Richmond, Jeffrey D. Holland, Christian H. Krupke

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is the key pest of corn, Zea mays L., in North America. The western corn rootworm variant is a strain found in some parts of the United States that oviposits in soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., thereby circumventing crop rotation. Soybean herbivory is closely associated with oviposition; therefore, evidence of herbivory could serve as a proxy for rotation resistance. A digital image analysis method based on the characteristic green abdominal coloration of rootworm adults with soybean foliage in their guts was developed to estimate soybean herbivory rates of adult females. Image analysis software was used to develop and apply threshold limits that allowed only colors within the range that is characteristic of soybean herbivory to be displayed. When this method was applied to adult females swept from soybean fields in an area with high levels of rotation resistance, 54.3 ± 2.1% were estimated to have fed on soybean. This is similar to a previously reported estimate of 54.8%. Results when laboratory-generated negative controls were analyzed showed an acceptably low frequency of false positives. This method could be developed into a management tool if user-friendly software were developed for its implementation. In addition, researchers may find the method useful as a rapid, standardized screen for measuring frequencies of soybean herbivory.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1464-1473
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of economic entomology
Volume103
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • crop rotation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology
  • Insect Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A novel method for estimating soybean herbivory in western corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this