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Pests of Soybean
Abstract
Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] is an important leguminous crop, which is grown since age-old times and one of the oldest grown crops known to man. It is grown in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions of the world. It harbours more than 300 insects, amongst them only a few attain major pest status. They damage the crop from seedling stage to maturity and cause nearly 25% reduction of yield. This chapter gives an overview of important insect pests of soybean, like stem fly, tobacco caterpillar, Bihar hairy caterpillar, green semilooper, pod borer, leaf miner, whitefly, aphids, stinkbug and girdle beetle, their distribution, host plants, biology, symptoms of damage and various control measures for the management of insect pests to enhance the productivity of soybean.
... The larvae are roughly 45 mm in size and have green bodies with white lines. The 5 th , 6 th , and final abdominal segments include three pairs of genuine legs and prolegs, which move in a distinctive looping pattern (Gaur & Mogalapu, 2018) [18] . ...
... The hindwings have a black outer border and are creamy white, while the forewings have a characteristic dark kidney-shaped mark. In their final instar, mature larvae, which range in size from brown to light green with dark stripes and a noticeable dorsal line, display color polymorphism (Gaur & Mogalapu, 2018) [18] . ...
... The hindwings have a black outer border and are creamy white, while the forewings have a characteristic dark kidney-shaped mark. In their final instar, mature larvae, which range in size from brown to light green with dark stripes and a noticeable dorsal line, display color polymorphism (Gaur & Mogalapu, 2018) [18] . ...
Soybean (Glycine max), a vital leguminous and oilseed crop, is grown globally and serves as a primary protein and oil source. Its cultivation faces significant challenges from numerous arthropod pests, which affect various growth stages and cause severe yield losses. These pests, including defoliators, stem borers, pod borers, and sucking insects, inflict damage by feeding on the plant's foliage, stems, and seeds. Effective pest management in soybean requires accurate identification and an understanding of pest life cycles to inform timely interventions. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches-combining biological control agents, cultural practices, pheromone traps, and selective chemical treatments-are critical for reducing pest populations while minimizing ecological impacts. IPM strategies, by promoting environmental balance, help mitigate yield losses and support sustainable soybean production. The lifespan, possible harm, and control strategies of major and minor insect pests of soybeans are highlighted in this review, with an emphasis on IPM techniques appropriate for soybean-growing areas.
... The percentage of crop loss due to S. litura attack on plants can vary depending on the type of plant attacked, the intensity of the attack, and the plant's growth phase during the attack. Some studies have shown that S. litura attacks can cause a yield reduction of up to 20-30% on some plants, such as tobacco and soybeans (Gaur & Mogalapu, 2018). However, on other plants such as cotton, the percentage of yield loss due to S. litura attack can be higher, reaching 50% or even more (Gaur & Mogalapu, 2018). ...
... Some studies have shown that S. litura attacks can cause a yield reduction of up to 20-30% on some plants, such as tobacco and soybeans (Gaur & Mogalapu, 2018). However, on other plants such as cotton, the percentage of yield loss due to S. litura attack can be higher, reaching 50% or even more (Gaur & Mogalapu, 2018). Significant yield losses can also occur if S. litura attacks during the early growth phase of the plant or during the flowering and fertilization period. ...
This research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of turmeric extract as a botanical insecticide on the feeding activity and mortality of Spodoptera litura larvae. The method used in this study was a toxicity test using the leaf dip method. The experiment employed a completely randomized design with combinations of turmeric extract concentrations (0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 grams per liter of water) and instar types (1 and 2). The results showed that the application of turmeric extract on cabbage leaves reduced the feeding activity of instar 2 and 3 larvae. Meanwhile, the turmeric extract had an effect on the mortality of instar 2 and 3 larvae only at a concentration of 16%. The symptoms observed in the dead larvae were changes in color and body texture. The conclusion of this research is that 16% is the minimum effective concentration of turmeric extract on instar 2 and 3 S. litura larvae. This study should be continued on other instar types at the field scale.
... The defoliation caused by some leaf-mining Gracillariidae can be so severe that some species are used in the biological control of weeds, as in the case of Cremastobombycia lantanella Busck (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) introduced to Hawaii to combat Lantana camara L. (Lamiales: Verbenaceae) (Davis et al. 1992). Other leaf-mining insects, such as Aproaerema modicella (Deventer) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Asia, Africa, and Australia, are known as important soybean pests (Gaur and Mogalapu 2018). ...
The soybean tentiform leafminer, Macrosaccus morrisella (Fitch) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), is a new potential pest of soybean; however, little is known about its biology. This study determined the number of instars, how to distinguish those instars, and how to differentiate the sexes of M. morrisella. Soybean plants oviposited on by M. morrisella in the laboratory were sampled daily to assess the development of the insects by measuring larval head capsule width, body length, and leaf area mined. Cages containing a subset of plants were then checked daily until the first emergence of adults. In addition, 20 pupae and resulting adults were sexed. The frequency distribution of head capsule widths of M. morrisella larvae showed 4 nonoverlapping peaks. However, examination of individuals comprising the third peak showed 2 distinct mouthpart morphologies, which were a sap-feeding 3rd instar and a tissue-feeding 4th instar with overlapping distributions of head capsule widths. Inspection of tentiform mines containing individual larvae revealed the presence of up to 4 shed head capsules, confirming the existence of 5 instars. Leaf area mined ranged from 0.28 to 498.45 mm2 per larva. Pupae of M. morrisella were sexually differentiated by observing the presence of the gonads through the cuticle in males and its absence in females, and this was confirmed by examination of the frenula of the resulting adults. This study fills an important gap in our understanding of M. morrisella biology, which is crucial for developing integrated management strategies for this potential pest of soybean in North America.
... Therefore, efficient methods are needed to assess the different traits affecting the quality of the crop, related to physiological and seed health changes. The presence of insect pests threatens the safety of soybean production worldwide, among them pentatomid heteropterans are of great importance (Gaur & Mogalapu, 2018). ...
Soybean (Glycine max L.) is an important leguminous plant, in which pests trigger significant damage every year. Important members of this community are insects with piercing‐sucking mouthpart, especially the southern green stinkbug, Nezara viridula L.. This insect with its extraoral digestion causes visible alterations (morphological and color changes) in the seeds. We aimed to obtain precise information about the extent and nature of damage in soybeans caused by N. viridula using nondestructive imaging methods. Two infestation conditions were applied: one with controlled numbers of pests (six insects/15 pods) and another with naturally occurring pests (samples collected from the apical part of the plant and samples from whole plants). An intact control group was also included, resulting in four treatment groups. Seed samples were analyzed by computed tomography (CT) and image color analysis under laboratory conditions. According to our CT findings, the damage caused by N. viridula changed the radiodensity, volume, and shape (Solidity) of the soybean seeds during the pod‐filling and maturing period. Radiodensity was significantly reduced in all three damaged categories compared to the intact sample; the mean radiodensity reduction range was 49–412 HU. The seed volume also decreased significantly (25%–80% decrease), with a threefold reduction for samples exposed to regulated damage compared to natural ones. The samples exposed to natural damage showed significant but minor reduction in solidity, while samples exposed to regulated damage showed a prominent decrease (~12%). Image color analysis showed that the damaged samples were well distinguishable, and the differences were statistically verifiable. The achieved data derived from our external and internal imaging approaches contribute to a better understanding of the internal chemical processes, and CT analysis helps to understand the alteration trends of the hidden structure of seeds caused by a pest. Our results can contribute to the development of a practically applicable system based on image analysis, which can identify lots damaged by insects.
... Its total production, in 2022, reached 175,544 t (SIAP, 2023). Soybean pests in Mexico include Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), Trichoplusia ni Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Chrysodeixis includens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Walker (Vázquez-Porras, González-Gaona, Espinosa-Vásquez, Terán-Vargas, & Azuara-Dominguez, 2016); resulting in yield reduction (Gaur & Mogalapu, 2018). In 2021, the soybean petiole borer Languria mozardi Latreille (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) was reported in Mexico, affecting the soybean (Felipe-Victoriano, Maldonado-Moreno, Sánchez-Peña, & Zárate-Martínez, 2021). ...
The pteromalid wasp Chlorocytus languriae (Ashmead, 1896) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) is reported for the first time in Mexico as parasitoid of the soybean petiole borer Languria mozardi (Latreille, 1807), in soybean. The state of Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosí are its southernmost distribution record.
... Its total production, in 2022, reached 175,544 t (SIAP, 2023). Soybean pests in Mexico include Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), Trichoplusia ni Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Chrysodeixis includens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Walker (Vázquez-Porras, González-Gaona, Espinosa-Vásquez, Terán-Vargas, & Azuara-Dominguez, 2016); resulting in yield reduction (Gaur & Mogalapu, 2018). In 2021, the soybean petiole borer Languria mozardi Latreille (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) was reported in Mexico, affecting the soybean (Felipe-Victoriano, Maldonado-Moreno, Sánchez-Peña, & Zárate-Martínez, 2021). ...
The pteromalid wasp Chlorocytus languriae (Ashmead, 1896) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) is reported for the first time in Mexico as parasitoid of the soybean petiole borer Languria mozardi (Latreille, 1807), in soybean. The state of Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosí are its southernmost distribution record.
... Soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr (Fabales: Fabaceae), is a globally signi cant agricultural crop, playing a pivotal role in oil and protein production (Graham and Vance 2003). Nevertheless, various pest insects and phytopathogenic fungi cause considerable damage to these crops, resulting in signi cant annual economic losses (Allen et al. 2017; Gaur and Mogalapu 2018). Consequently, farmers often turn to synthetic pesticides to mitigate these issues. ...
Soybean (Glycine max), a pivotal global agricultural crop, faces significant economic losses from pests and phytopathogenic fungi. To address this, farmers often resort to synthetic pesticides, posing potential risks to health and the environment. In this context, eucalyptol stands out in agriculture for its toxicity to various insects and fungi, with minimal environmental and human health impacts. This study aimed to i) assess the insecticidal activity of eucalyptol against Spodoptera frugiperda JE Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Epicauta atomaria Germar (Coleoptera: Meloidae), and its fungicidal activity against Cercospora kikuchii, Cercospora sojina, and Sclerotium rolfsii; and ii) explore the potential phytotoxic effect of eucalyptol on non-target soybean plants. Eucalyptol demonstrated good fumigant insecticidal activity against S. frugiperda 1st instar larvae (LC50 = 26.9 µL/L air) and E. atomaria adults (LC50 = 34.6 µL/L air), along with moderate fungicidal activity against C. kikuchii and C. sojina (mycelial inhibition halo diameters of 6.0 ± 0.0 mm and 10.0 ± 2.5 mm, respectively, at a concentration of 5 µL/disk). Importantly, eucalyptol exhibited no phytotoxic effects on soybeans. Its potential as a biopesticide for soybean crops, replacing synthetic alternatives, shows promise, though further studies are needed.
... Its total production, in 2022, reached 175,544 t (SIAP, 2023). Soybean pests in Mexico include Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), Trichoplusia ni Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Chrysodeixis includens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Walker (Vázquez-Porras, González-Gaona, Espinosa-Vásquez, Terán-Vargas, & Azuara-Dominguez, 2016); resulting in yield reduction (Gaur & Mogalapu, 2018). In 2021, the soybean petiole borer Languria mozardi Latreille (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) was reported in Mexico, affecting the soybean (Felipe-Victoriano, Maldonado-Moreno, Sánchez-Peña, & Zárate-Martínez, 2021). ...
During autumn-winter 2020-2021, leaf petioles of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) with larvae and pupae of clover stem borer, Languria mozardi Latreille, 1807 (Coleoptera: Languriidae), were collected at the Municipality of bano, San Luis Potos, Mexico. A large percentage (70.8 to 92%) of specimens collected completed larval and pupal stages and emerged as adults in laboratory conditions, showing that satisfactorily completed its life cycle in a soybean plant, a potential host for the pest in Mexico.
The soybean tentiform leafminer, Macrosaccus morrisella (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), was known to feed on only two legumes native to North America, and it has recently expanded its host range to soybean, Glycine max (Fabales: Fabaceae). However, the threat to other legume crops and potential for host plant resistance for M. morrisella management in G. max is unknown. Thus, M. morrisella host range among different species of legume crops and genotypes of G. max were evaluated through complementary choice and no-choice experiments. Macrosaccus morrisella oviposited on its native host American hogpeanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata (Fabales: Fabaceae)) and G. max (both grain and vegetable types), but not on Phaseolus vulgaris, Vigna unguiculata, Cicer arietinum, Vicia faba, Pisum sativum, and Lens culinaris (Fabales: Fabaceae). Low oviposition was observed on Vigna radiata and Phaseolus lunatus (Fabales: Fabaceae) in a choice test, but no larvae survived on either legume. When G. max genotypes were compared, lower but detectable oviposition (50 to 100 eggs per plant) was observed on PI229358 and PI227687 in choice and no-choice tests, and lower survival rates (20 to 40%) on PI229358 and M15-105140 in a no-choice test. These results indicate that M. morrisella host range appears to be restricted to the previously known native hosts and G. max, but continued monitoring for adaptation to other legumes and further studies testing multiple populations of M. morrisella are necessary. Furthermore, sources of G. max with lower susceptibility against M. morrisella were identified and could be utilized in G. max breeding programs for the development of host plant resistance for M. morrisella management.
Bihar hairy caterpillar, Spilarctia obliqua (Walker), is an insect of order Lepidoptera and family Arctiidae. It is polyphagous in nature infesting nearly 126 plants species including soybean. This pest is sporadic to soybean crop distributed all over the country, therefore, considered a regional pest. It is terrestrial in habitat and severe incidence is observed during monsoon and post-monsoon periods. The biological parameters of egg, larval, pupal and adult developmental period are greatly influenced by the food quality, temperature and relative humidity. S. obliqua lays eggs in cluster groups on the under surface of leaves. The larval form of this pest is very distinguishing covered with yellowish to black long hairs. Adult moth is medium-sized brown with red abdomen. The young caterpillars of S. obliqua are voracious feeders and gregariously feed on soft green chlorophyll content mostly on the under surface of the leaves due to which the leaves turn brownish-yellow. The older larvae eat the leaves from the margin often reaching epidemic level completely defoliating the plants. Integrated Pest Management techniques of Bihar hairy caterpillar infesting soybean may include deep summer ploughing, destruction of infested plant parts, egg masses and young larvae, installation of light trap, etc. Use of botanical extracts and entomopathogenic microbes are alternative strategies having potential for its management. When the pest reaches ETL, chemical insecticides, viz., Chlorantraniliprole 18.5%SC @100 ml/ha or Lambda-Cyhalothrin 04.90% CS @300 ml/ha or Indoxacarb 15.80% EC @333 ml/ha can be use whenever necessary.
Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) is among the world’s five most important food crops. Nowadays, it has become a prime agricultural commodity of foreign exchange. The crop is mainly grown under rainfed conditions and is sensitive to various forms of abiotic and biotic stresses throughout the growing period, which reduces seed yield and quality. Selection of high-yielding climate resilience soybean varieties and improved agronomic practices may increase soybean productivity. This chapter emphasize the significance of varietal selection in different agroclimatic conditions, suitable soil and its preparation by modern techniques, soil fertility management with optimal nutrient recommendations, seed priming with bio-inoculants and with some modern group of agrochemicals, appropriate weed management by adopting pre- and post-emergence practices, required supplement irrigation at growth stages. It facilitates crops with an improved drainage system for providing better-growing conditions. It highlights the importance of regular crop monitoring for insect pests and diseases at different stages and the timely adoption of recommended plant protection practices for minimizing direct yield losses. The time of harvesting and post-harvest operations are also emphasized for seed quality. This chapter also explores sustainable and innovative soybean cultivation practices, including conservation and precision agriculture. This chapter would be a valuable resource for farmers and researchers to increase soybean productivity with quality and sustainability.
Brazil is the leading producer of soybean and India stands 5th in position in terms of production. In India soybean is mainly grown as a kharif season crop. Soybean, the 'wonder crop', is a rich edible oil and protein source. It is one of the most attractive Agricultural crops in the world. But unfortunately, this crop is also attractive to dozens of insect pests that infest this crop throughout the growth period, like the girdle beetle,stem fly, semilooper, pod borer, leaf miner, tobacco caterpillar, and many sucking pests like whitefly, aphid, thrips, leaf hopper, etc. These insect pests are one of the major constraints in the productivity of soybean. So, an elaborate knowledge of these insect pests is very necessary to tackle this issue. This article discusses different insect pests that attack soybean crops in their different growth stages, along with their other hosts, bionomics, and typical damage symptoms. This article also covers the Incidence of different insect pests and pest-predator profiles during the kharif period. The economic threshold level (ETL) of important insect pests and their integrated management are mentioned here for better management of the pests.
A cropland system is one of the most sensitive socio-ecological systems to climate change, such as drought and flood. Facing frequent extreme weather events worldwide, how to improve cropland system resilience to climate change (CSRCC) and thus ensure food production has been concerned. Although a small number of studies have attempted to evaluate CSRCC through single or multiple indicators, few studies have considered the perspective of the three basic capacities of resilience (i.e., robustness, adaptability, and transformability), which could ignore the dynamic characteristics of cropland system resilience against shocks within a certain period. Therefore, this study first constructs an evaluation index system from the three capacities of system resilience. Then, taking Hubei province, China, as a case and comprehensively using the methods of Delphi, AHP, and TOPSIS to assess the spatio-temporal characteristics of CSRCC at the municipal scale from 2011 to 2018. On this basis, the regional disparities of CSRCC are analyzed by using the Theil coefficient. The results show that the CSRCC of Hubei province fluctuates on a downward trend, with the lowest in 2017 and the highest in 2013. Most municipalities have witnessed a pattern of fluctuated decline, except for a few ones in the plains, such as Wuhan and Jingmen. Generally, municipalities in the plains have greater scores, while some municipalities in the southern and eastern hilly regions show higher adaptability and transformability. In addition, adaptability contributes the least to the CSRCC at the municipal scale. At last, indicator selection against different research objects, influencing mechanism of CSRCC, and policy implications are discussed. This study is expected to provide a reference for the practice in sustainable management and utilization of cropland systems.
Soybean is considered one of the important crops among legumes. Due to high nutritional contents in seed (proteins, sugars, oil, fatty acids, and amino acids), soybean is used globally for food, feed, and fuel. The primary consumption of soybean is vegetable oil and feed for chickens and livestock. Apart from this, soybean benefits soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen through root nodular bacteria. While conventional breeding is practiced for soybean improvement, with the advent of new biotechnological methods scientists have also engineered soybean to improve different traits (herbicide, insect, and disease resistance) to fulfill consumer requirements and to meet the global food deficiency. Genetic engineering (GE) techniques such as transgenesis and gene silencing help to minimize the risks and increase the adaptability of soybean. Recently, new plant breeding technologies (NPBTs) emerged such as zinc-finger nucleases, transcription activator‐like effector nucleases, and Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR/Cas9), which paved the way for enhanced genetic modification of soybean. These NPBTs have the potential to improve soybean via gene functional characterization precision genome engineering for trait improvement. Importantly, these NPBTs address the ethical and public acceptance issues related to genetic modifications and transgenesis in soybean. In the present review, we summarized the improvement of soybean through GE and NPBTs. The valuable traits that have been improved through GE for different constraints have been discussed. Moreover, the traits that have been improved through NPBTs and potential targets for soybean improvements via NPBTs and solutions for ethical and public acceptance are also presented.
Macrosaccus morrisella (Fitch) is a tiny leaf-mining moth native to North America. In this publication, we provide first reports of this insect feeding on soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., in Canada and the United States, describe its injury to soybean, and briefly review leaf miners associated with soybean. Further efforts related to M. morrisella should focus on its geographic extent of infestation of soybean, impacts to soybean, and ecology in the agricultural landscape.
Throughout their life cycle, plants are exposed to various kinds of biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Plant responds to such stressors through the orchestrated machinery at the molecular level and exerts its defense. Plants have sophisticated mechanisms to sense environmental cues, which guard them to mount a protective response. The antioxidant machinery in the plants comprises enzymatic and non-enzymatic proteins. The enzymatic proteins include glutaredoxins, thioredoxins, and many others. Thioredoxin (Trx) are multifunctional small redox proteins found in every living organism, and various Trxs have been identified in plants. The two reactive cysteine residues are found in the conserved motif of thioredoxins. They play post-translational regulatory role in number of cellular processes such as oxidative stresses and plant pathogen interactions. Trxs are reduced by NADP-thioredoxin reductase (NTR) in the presence of NADPH. In model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, At Trxs are pathogen-inducible and contribute towards plant defense via expression of the defense responsive pathogenesis-related (PR) genes. The most important family of thioredoxin proteins is Trxh, having their role in many versatile processes including defense responses in plants. We present upcoming, prospective roles of thioredoxin proteins of plants, insects as well as pathogens and their role in biological interactions. This chapter would assist plant scientists in further exploring the crucial role of thioredoxins in response to attack by the insects causing losses to economically important plants.
Soybean pests attack at any growth stage from the seedling through to harvest and can be especially severe from flowering to plant maturity. The pests reduce quality and yields of soybean. Soybean pests cause damage through direct feeding thereby exposing plants to attack by other pathogens and indirectly by transmission of viruses and other pathogens.
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Kerusakan tanaman akibat serangan hama merupakan salah satu kendala pengembangan kedelai di lahan pasang surut. Informasi tentang komposisi spesies hama kedelai dan musuh alaminya merupakan kebijakan dasar pengelolaan hama terpadu di suatu lokasi, sehingga survei perlu dilakukan, untuk mengetahui dominasi dan status hama kedelai serta musuh alaminya di lahan pasang surut. Survei dilakukan pada bulan Juni sampai dengan November 2016 di Kalimantan Selatan. Serangga hama yang ditemukan di lokasi survei sangat tergantung dari umur/fase pertumbuhan tanaman saat dilakukan pencatatan. Komposisi jenis hama kedelai yang ditemukan di Provinsi Kalimantan Selatan adalah kutu kebul ( Bemisia tabaci Gennadius), wereng daun ( Empoasca kerri Pruthi), lalat kacang ( Ophiomyia phaseoli Tryon), ulat grayak ( Spodoptera litura Fabricius), belalang ( Attractomorpha crenulata ), perusak polong (Piezodorus hybneri Gmelin , Riptortus linearis Fabricius , Nezara viridula Linnaeus dan Etiella zinckenella Treitsche) , dengan indeks keanekaragaman Shannon-Wiener (H) 1,655 dan indeks dominansi Simpson (c) 0,214. Di antara hama-hama tersebut, S. litura , P. hybneri, R. linearis, N. viridula dan E. zinckenella merupakan hama penting di semua lokasi survei. Jenis musuh alami yang banyak ditemukan ada tiga jenis, yaitu Oxyopes sp., parasitoid dan Coccinella sp. dengan indeks keanekaragaman Shannon-Wiener (H) 1,088 dan indeks dominansi Simpson (c) 0,415. Pengendalian hama pada tanaman kedelai di lahan pasang surut harus mempertimbangkan hama-hama utama dan musuh alaminya.
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Soybean Stem Fly (SSF), Melanagromyza sojae (Zehntner), belongs to the family Agromyzidae and is highly polyphagous, attacking many plant species of the family Fabaceae, including soybean and other beans. SSF is regarded as one of the most important pests in soybean fields of Asia (e.g., China, India), North East Africa (e.g., Egypt), parts of Russia, and South East Asia. Despite reports of Agromyzidae flies infesting soybean fields in Rio Grande do Sul State (Brazil) in 1983 and 2009 and periodic interceptions of SSF since the 1940s by the USA quarantine authorities, SSF has not been officially reported to have successfully established in the North and South Americas. In South America, M. sojae was recently confirmed using morphology and its complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was characterized. In the present study, we surveyed the genetic diversity of M. sojae, collected directly from soybean host plants, using partial mtDNA cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene, and provide evidence of multiple (>10) maternal lineages in SSF populations in South America, potentially representing multiple incursion events. However, a single incursion involving multiple-female founders could not be ruled out. We identified a haplotype that was common in the fields of two Brazilian states and the individuals collected from Australia in 2013. The implications of SSF incursions in southern Brazil are discussed in relation to the current soybean agricultural practices, highlighting an urgent need for better understanding of SSF population movements in the New World, which is necessary for developing effective management options for this significant soybean pest.
The cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a widespread pest of many cultivated and wild plants in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. In 2013, this species was reported in Brazil, attacking various host crops in the midwestern and northeastern regions of the country and is now found countrywide. Aiming to understand the effects of different host plants on the life cycle of H. armigera, we selected seven species of host plants that mature in different seasons and are commonly grown in these regions: cotton (Gossypium hirsutum, “FM993”), corn (Zea mays, “2B587”), soybean (Glycine max, “99R01”), rattlepods (Crotalaria spectabilis), millet (Pennisetum glaucum, “ADR300”), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor, “AGROMEN70G35”), and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata, “SEMPRE VERDE”). The development time of immatures, body weight, survivorship, and fecundity of H. armigera were evaluated on each host plant under laboratory conditions. The bollworms did not survive on corn, millet, or sorghum and showed very low survival rates on rattlepods. Survival rates were highest on soybean, followed by cotton and cowpea. The values for relative fitness found on soybean, cotton, cowpea, and rattlepods were 1, 0.5, 0.43, and 0.03, respectively. Survivorship, faster development time, and fecundity on soybean, cotton, and cowpea were positively correlated. Larger pupae and greater fecundity were found on soybean and cotton. The results indicated that soybean, cotton, and cowpea are the most suitable plants to support the reproduction of H. armigera in the field.
The major insect-pests observed attacking soybean variety JS 335 were girdle beetle, Obereopsis brevis; tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura; green semilooper, Chrysodeixis acuta; whitefly, Bemisia tabaci and jassids, Empoasca kerri. The peak activity of girdle beetle (1.0 damaged plant per meter row) was observed during first week of October. Whereas the peak activity of caterpillar pests that is, S. litura (2.5 larvae per meter row) and C. acuta (0.7 larvae per meter row) was recorded during second fortnight of August and that of sucking pests that is, B. tabaci (3.2 whiteflies per plant) and E. kerri (3.4 jassids per plant) was recorded during last week of August and Second week of August, respectively. The biocontrol agent’s three species of lady bird beetle, Menochilus sexmaculata, Coccinella septumpunctata and Coccinella transversalis and orb weaver spider, Neoscona sp. were found predating mainly upon whiteflies and jassids. Whereas, lynx spider, Oxyopes sp. and a predatory pentatomid bug, Eocanthecona furcellata was noticed sucking the body sap of lepidopterous larvae. The peak activity of lady bird beetle in second week of August and September with 0.4 grub and adult per plant, whereas the predatory pentatomid bug and spider is both last week of August with 1.1 and 1.2 bugs and spider per plant respectively.
Key words: Girdle beetle, caterpillar, sucking pests and soybean.
Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) causes economically significant damage to soybeans Glycine max (L.) Merrill (Fabaceae: Phaseoleae). The genetically modified soybean expressing the Cry1Ac protein of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner, which is toxic to lepidopterans, is a potential alternative tool to manage this pest. Bioassays with H. armigera larval instars were conducted with Bt (Cry1Ac) and non-Bt soybean plants in order to evaluate the efficacy of control with the modified cultivar. Bt soybean affected the mean time of mortality in each larval instar, but its efficacy was not affected by the larval stage. Mortality was 100% in all six instars, indicating that the Bt soybean expressing the Cry 1Ac protein is an efficient control tactic for this pest.
This paper presents an inventory of 418 species of moths (303 identified to species, 116 identified to genus) from 28 families belonging to 15 superfamilies, which were recorded by light trapping at eight sites in northern Western Ghats, India. Of the species recorded, with reference to their published distribution ranges, 11 species from five families appear to be new records for India, range extensions were noted for 130 species from 16 families, and 25 species from six families are endemic to India. The dominant families were Erebidae, Geometridae, Sphingidae and Crambidae. The highest number of moths were recorded from Malshej Ghat, Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Bheemashankar Wildlife Sanctuary. The highest species diversity was recorded from Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Amboli, Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary and Malshej Ghat showed a number of new records and seem to support interesting and endemic moth fauna. Amboli and Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary need further detailed sampling, as these areas have been largely unexplored for moths. Extensive sampling in Sanjay Gandhi National Park resulted in many range extensions for the northern Western Ghats; this indicates that if sampling is intensified additional records may also be generated at the other sites. It was concluded that the moth diversity of northern Western Ghats is similar to that of north-east India. Further systematic and intensive surveys will yield more data.
The common cutworm Spodoptera litura, has become a major pest of soybean (Glycine max) throughout its Indian range. With a changing climate, there is the potential for this insect to become an increasingly severe pest in certain regions due to increased habitat suitability. To examine this possibility, we developed temperature-based phenology model for S. litura by constructing thermal reaction norms for cohorts of single life stages at both constant and fluctuating temperatures within the ecologically relevant range (15-38oC) for its development. Life table parameters were estimated stochastically using cohort updating and rate summation approach. The model was implemented in the geographic information system to examine the potential future pest status of S. litura using temperature change projections from SRES A1B climate change scenario for the year 2050. The changes were visualized by means of three spatial indices demonstrating the risks for establishment, number of generations per year and pest abundance according to the temperature conditions. The results revealed that the development rate as a function of temperature increased linearly for all the immature stages of S. litura until approximately 34-36 oC, after which it became non-linear. The extreme temperature of 38oC was found lethal to larval and pupal stages of S. litura wherein no development to the next stage occurred. Females could lay no eggs at the extreme low (15oC) and high (> 35oC) test temperatures, demonstrating the importance of optimum temperature in determining the suitability of climate for the mating and reproduction in S. litura. The risk mapping predicts that due to temperature increase under future climate change, much of the soybean areas in Indian states like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan will become suitable for S. litura establishment and increased pest activity, indicating the expansion of the suitable and favourable areas over time. This has serious implication in terms of soybean production since these areas produce approximately 95% of the total soybeans in India. As the present model results are based on temperature only and the effects of other abiotic and biotic factors determining the pest population dynamics were excluded, it presents only the potential population growth parameters for S. litura. However, if combined with the field observations, the model results could certainly contribute in gaining the insights into the field dynamics of S. litura.
The groundnut leafminer, Aproaerema modicella is an important pest of groundnut and soybean in South and South-East Asia. It has also been reported from Uganda, Malawi and Mozambique. During 2000, it was first noticed on groundnut in South Africa. Since then it has spread over the entire groundnut production area of the Free State, Northern Cape, North West and Mpumalanga provinces. Reduction in yield was observed under conditions of severe infestations. During 2001 A. modicella was also observed on soybean in Mpumalanga and lucerne in the Northern Cape province, respectively.
Published research on stink bugs (Pentatomidae) associated with soybean in the Americas is compiled and reviewed. Emphasis is placed on Nezara viridula (L.), Acrosternum hilare (Say), Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood), and Euschistus heros (F.). Nymphs and adults feed via stylet insertion primarily in seeds, reducing seed yield and quality and sometimes causing prolonged leaf retention and development of abnormal leaflets and pods. Colonization of soybean by pentatomids typically starts during pre-blooming and peaks by late pod-filling stage. As plants senesce, movement to alternate hosts occurs. Economic thresholds in soybean differ throughout the Americas and normally control measures are required. Important natural enemies of phytophagous pentatomids include the hymenopteran egg parasites Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston) and Telenomus mormideae Lima, and the tachinid adult parasites Trichopoda pennipes (F.) and Eutrichopodopsis nitens Blanchard. Cultural and chemical control strategies and host plant resistance to stink bugs are discussed. Opportunities for future research within the philosophy and methodology of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) are suggested.
In this study is reported the first
occurrence, in Brazil, of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera:
Noctuidae), which was considered up till now a quarantine pest. The
notification occurred in the Goiás State, in soybean; Bahia State, in volunteer
soybean; and Mato Grosso State, in cotton.
The highly polyphagous Old World cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera is a quarantine agricultural pest for the American continents. Historically H. armigera is thought to have colonised the American continents around 1.5 to 2 million years ago, leading to the current H. zea populations on the American continents. The relatively recent species divergence history is evident in mating compatibility between H. zea and H. armigera under laboratory conditions. Despite periodic interceptions of H. armigera into North America, this pest species is not believed to have successfully established significant populations on either continent. In this study, we provide molecular evidence via mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and cytochrome b (Cyt b) partial gene sequences for the successful recent incursion of H. armigera into the New World, with individuals being detected at two sites (Primavera do Leste, Pedra Preta) within the State of Mato Grosso in Brazil. The mtDNA COI and Cyt b haplotypes detected in the Brazilian H. armigera individuals are common throughout the Old World, thus precluding identification of the founder populations. Combining the two partial mtDNA gene sequences showed that at least two matrilines are present in Brazil, while the inclusion of three nuclear DNA Exon-Primed Intron-Crossing (EPIC) markers identified a further two possible matrilines in our samples. The economic, biosecurity, resistance management, ecological and evolutionary implications of this incursion are discussed in relation to the current agricultural practices in the Americas.
The lethal and sublethal effects of three post-emergence herbicides, 2,4-D ethyl ester (Weedkill 80WP), imazethapyr (Pursuit 10EC) and quizalofop ethyl (Tergasuper 5EC) fortified with artificial diets
were studied on larvae of Spilarctia obliqua Walker (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). Quizalofop ethyl and imazethapyr caused significant reduction of pest survival at almost
all levels; however, 2,4-D ethyl ester was nontoxic. Interestingly, LC50 data (0.230 and 0.855% for quizalofop ethyl and imazethapyr, respectively) obtained from probit analysis were almost equal
to labeled doses (x) of quizalofop ethyl (x=0.16%) and imazethapyr (x=0.625%), which shows the high toxicity of these
compounds against S. obliqua larvae. Among the three herbicides, imazethapyr caused sublethal effects on this pest, increasing the larval period at almost
all concentrations tested in the artificial diet. Considering the markedly significant effect of quizalofop ethyl on pest
survivorship with no sublethal effect, we suggest incorporating it into the integrated pest management module for S. obliqua in legumes or oilseed crops with other biorational insecticides. Based on toxicity, imazethapyr can be a potential candidate
for integrated management of S. obliqua. However, because of its sublethal effects, we advocate caution while using it in the presence of pest infestations.
Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) currently is believed to be a species complex, with many biotypes and two described extant cryptic species, B. tabaci and Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring. This paper examines the historical record of B. tabaci and its synonyms, and discusses research that has resulted in the species complex hypothesis. It also reviews work that has been done comparing populations from various geographic locations. This comparative research, using a variety of techniques, forms the basis from which similarities and differences between populations can be inferred. Based on these studies, seven groups within the species complex are proposed.
The groundnut leafminer, Aproaerema modicella (Deventer) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a well known groundnut pest in Asia. It was first reported in east Africa during 1998 after which it rapidly spread throughout East and southern Africa. The adult is a small brownish-grey moth and it difficult to distinguish between the different sexes even under a stereomicroscope. Research on pest behaviour is hampered by the fact that male and female moths cannot be distinguished. The aim of this study was to identify distinguishing morphological characteristics of male and female larvae and pupae that are visible with the naked eye or under a stereomicroscope. The presence of pink coloured gonads which are easily visible through the cuticle was a distinguishing characteristic of male larvae. The position of the male genital aperture is a useful distinguishing characteristic present in male pupae. It is situated further away from the proximal side of the last abdominal segment, compared to the aperture of oviduct and bursa copulatrix of the female.
Revised! EENY-016, a 5-page illustrated fact sheet by Jason M. Squitier, is part of the Featured Creatures collection. It describes this shield-shaped polyphagous feeder that attacks many important food crops — distribution, description, life cycle, damage action threshold, and management. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2010. EENY016/IN142: Southern Green Stink Bug, Nezara viridula (Linnaeus) (Insecta: Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) (ufl.edu)
Effects of temperature on the development and the mortality of the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula and the oriental green stink bug, N. antennata were studied under a series of constant temperature. Relation between rearing temperature and the colouration of the 4th and 5th instar nymphs in both species was also observed. 1) The relation of rearing temperature and the development in both species can be expressed by straight line, if reciprocals of incubation period and larval period, i.e., the developmental velocities are plotted against temperature. 2) In both N. viridula and N. antennata, the developmental zero and the total effective temperature are obtained as follows: [formula omitted] 3) Within a temperature range used in this experiment, the zone of favourable temperature for development from egg to the emergence of imago seems to lie between 20 and 30°C in N. viridula and between 22.5 and 27.5°C in N. antennata. The optimum temperature for development is near 30°C in the former species and near 27.5°C in the latter. 4) In both species, individuals bearing melanic pattern occur more frequently with the fall of temperature (Figs. 3 and 4), indicating that temperature can be regarded as the main factor responsible for the variation of the body colour of the 4th and 5th instar larvae. © 1961, JAPANESE SOCIETY OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY AND ZOOLOGY. All rights reserved.
Developmental thresholds and thermal requirements for different stages of Spodoptera litura (F.) fed on groundnut leaves were determined under constant laboratory conditions and in the field. An average of 64 degree-days (DD) above a threshold of 8°C was required from oviposition to egg hatch; the larval period required 303 DD and pupal stage 155 DD above a 10°C threshold; females needed 29 DD above a 10.8°C threshold from emergence to oviposition. Fifth and sixth instars accounted for about 50%of the total larval requirement under laboratory and field conditions. The response of various stages of S. litura to temperatures under constant laboratory conditions was similar to that under field conditions. The upper developmental threshold temperature of all stages was 37°C; 40°C was lethal.
Thirty nine species of insect pests were found to infest soybean crop at their different growth stages in Noakhali region of Bangladesh during January to May, 2010 and 2011. Among the recorded pest species, six species namely, hairy caterpillar, Spilarctia obliqua (Walker); leaf roller, Lamprosema indicata F; common cutworm, Spodoptera litura F; pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner); stem fly, Ophiomyia phaseoli (Tryon) and white fly; Bemisia tabaci Genn. were considered as the major pests while the rests were of minor importance on the basis of population densities per plant, nature and extent of damages, and yield reductions. Most of the major and minor pests appeared in the crop during vegetative to flowering stages (30-50 Days after sowing) and the maximum insect population and their infestation occurred during flowering and pod formation stages of the crop throughout the study period. J. Asiat. Soc. Bangladesh, Sci. 39(1): 1-8, June 2013 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jasbs.v39i1.16027
Heliothine moths (Lepidoptera: Heliothinae) include some of the world's most devastating pest species. Whereas the majority of nonpest heliothinae specialize on a single plant family, genus, or species, pest species are highly polyphagous, with populations often escalating in size as they move from one crop species to another. Here, we examine the current literature on heliothine host-selection behavior with the aim of providing a knowledge base for research scientists and pest managers. We review the host relations of pest heliothines, with a particular focus on Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), the most economically damaging of all heliothine species. We then consider the important question of what constitutes a host plant in these moths, and some of the problems that arise when trying to determine host plant status from empirical studies on host use. The top six host plant families in the two main Australian pest species (H. armigera and Helicoverpa punctigera Wallengren) are the same and the top three (Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Malvaceae) are ranked the same (in terms of the number of host species on which eggs or larvae have been identified), suggesting that these species may use similar cues to identify their hosts. In contrast, for the two key pest heliothines in the Americas, the Fabaceae contains ≈1/3 of hosts for both. For Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), the remaining hosts are more evenly distributed, with Solanaceae next, followed by Poaceae, Asteraceae, Malvaceae, and Rosaceae. For Heliothis virescens (F.), the next highest five families are Malvaceae, Asteraceae, Solanaceae, Convolvulaceae, and Scrophulariaceae. Again there is considerable overlap in host use at generic and even species level. H. armigera is the most widely distributed and recorded from 68 plant families worldwide, but only 14 families are recorded as a containing a host in all geographic areas. A few crop hosts are used throughout the range as expected, but in some cases there are anomalies, perhaps because host plant relation studies are not comparable. Studies on the attraction of heliothines to plant odors are examined in the context of our current understanding of insect olfaction, with the aim of better understanding the connection between odor perception and host choice. Finally, we discuss research into sustainable management of pest heliothines using knowledge of heliothine behavior and ecology. A coordinated international research effort is needed to advance our knowledge on host relations in widely distributed polyphagous species instead of the localized, piecemeal approaches to understanding these insects that has been the norm to date.
The effects of increasing population densities of the cowpea pod-sucking bugs (PSB) Riptortus dentipes, Mirperus jaculus, Anoplocnemis curvipes and Nezara viridula were studied in caged potted cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) plants with infestation levels from 0 (control) to 12 adult bugs per cage. Generally, there was an increase in damage to cowpea (measured as damage to pods and seeds) with increasing in insect density. There was also a highly significant correlation between the number of infesting adult bugs and damage to pods and seeds, and a significant negative correlation between bug numbers and cowpea yield. The results suggest that control measures should be initiated at: 4 bugs (fourth instar and above) per 10 plants for R. dentipes and M. jaculus; 2 bugs per 10 plants for A. curvipes and 6 bugs per 10 plants for N. viridula at podding stage.
Seasonal occurrence of the common cutworm Spodoptera litura (Fab.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) moths captured in synthetic sex pheromone traps and associated field population of eggs and larvae in soybean were examined in India from 2009 to 2011. Male moths of S. litura first appeared in late July or early August and continued through October. Peak male trap catches occurred during the second fortnight of September, which was within soybean reproductive stages. Similarly, the first appearance of S. litura egg masses and larval populations were observed after the first appearance of male moths in early to mid-August, and were present in the growing season up to late September to mid-October. The peak appearance of egg masses and larval populations always corresponded with the peak activity of male moths recorded during mid-September in all years. Correlation studies showed that weekly mean trap catches were linearly and positively correlated with egg masses and larval populations during the entire growing season of soybean. Seasonal means of male moth catches in pheromone traps during the 2010 and 2011 seasons were significantly lower than the catches during the 2009 season. However, seasonal means of the egg masses and larval populations were not significantly different between years. Pheromone traps may be useful indicators of the onset of numbers of S. litura eggs and larvae in soybean fields.
During an outbreak of the soybean semilooper,Plusia orichalcea F. in Jabalpur, the caterpillars not only caused heavy damages to the soybean crop but were also commonly feeding on many other plants growing in soybean fields and nearly bunds. A list of these alternative host plants containing 15 species of 6 families is given.
The cosmopolitan southern green stink bug Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) is highly polyphagous on many important food and fibre crops. Comments are made on its geographical and host range; bionomics and seasonal phenologies (including life history, diapause and overwintering); aspects of behaviour (including nymphal and adult patterns of aggregation and dispersion, courtship, mating and defence); biological control (the most successful being the scelionid egg parasitoid Trissolcus basalis and the tachinid flies Tachinus pennipes and Trichopoda pilipes; and natural mortality and environmental considerations. Use of trap crops as a control strategy for management of this pest has excellent potential for reducing crop damage. -P.J.Jarvis
We selected 50 crystal (Cry) toxins specific to lepidopteran insects. Phylogenetic relationships of whole toxins as well as individual domains revealed that Cry1Jb and Cry1Ac are distantly placed but related to reduced cross-resistance in Helicoverpa armigera. Multiple alignments of Cry1Jb and Cry1Ac amino acid sequences showed significant differences in the composition and length of the loops of domains II and III. This was further confirmed by the superpositioning of 3D structures. cry1Jb and cry1Ac genes cloned in expression vectors were overexpressed in Escherichia coli Castellani & Chalmers, and proteins were harvested. Insect bioassays revealed that the wild-type Cry1Jb and Cry1Ac proteins showed differential specificity to H. armigera (Hübner), Spodoptera litura (Fab.) and Earias vittella F. Chimeric genes were constructed by exchanging the domains between cry1Jb and cry1Ac and overexpressed in BL21(DE3). Substitution of domain III of Cry1Jb with that of Cry1Ac enhanced its activity against H. armigera 7.8-fold. Bioassay of the parental and chimeric toxins against S. litura revealed no activity even at the discriminative dose of 100 μg/ml, but a significant difference in growth was observed. The present results, along with previous domain swapping experiments, suggest that protein engineering not only reveals the mechanism by which endotoxins work, but also generates novel toxins with enhanced toxicity/broader specificity.
Productivity of crops grown for human consumption is at risk due to the incidence of pests, especially weeds, pathogens and animal pests. Crop losses due to these harmful organisms can be substantial and may be prevented, or reduced, by crop protection measures. An overview is given on different types of crop losses as well as on various methods of pest control developed during the last century.
Estimates on potential and actual losses despite the current crop protection practices are given for wheat, rice, maize, potatoes, soybeans, and cotton for the period 2001–03 on a regional basis (19 regions) as well as for the global total. Among crops, the total global potential loss due to pests varied from about 50% in wheat to more than 80% in cotton production. The responses are estimated as losses of 26–29% for soybean, wheat and cotton, and 31, 37 and 40% for maize, rice and potatoes, respectively. Overall, weeds produced the highest potential loss (34%), with animal pests and pathogens being less important (losses of 18 and 16%). The efficacy of crop protection was higher in cash crops than in food crops. Weed control can be managed mechanically or chemically, therefore worldwide efficacy was considerably higher than for the control of animal pests or diseases, which rely heavily on synthetic chemicals. Regional differences in efficacy are outlined. Despite a clear increase in pesticide use, crop losses have not significantly decreased during the last 40 years. However, pesticide use has enabled farmers to modify production systems and to increase crop productivity without sustaining the higher losses likely to occur from an increased susceptibility to the damaging effect of pests.
The concept of integrated pest/crop management includes a threshold concept for the application of pest control measures and reduction in the amount/frequency of pesticides applied to an economically and ecologically acceptable level. Often minor crop losses are economically acceptable; however, an increase in crop productivity without adequate crop protection does not make sense, because an increase in attainable yields is often associated with an increased vulnerability to damage inflicted by pests.
Twenty-two strains of the tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), collected from groundnut crops of eight locations in Andhra Pradesh, India, between 1991 and 1996 were assayed in the F1 generation for resistance to commonly used insecticides. Resistance levels ranged as follows: cypermethrin, 0·2- to 197-fold; fenvalerate, 8- to 121-fold; endosulfan, 1-to 13-fold; quinalphos, 1- to 29-fold; monocrotophos, 2- to 362-fold and methomyl, 0·7- to 19-fold. In nearly all strains pre-treatment with the metabolic inhibitor, piperonyl butoxide, resulted in complete suppression of cypermethrin resistance (2- to 121-fold synergism), indicating that enhanced detoxification by microsomal P450-dependent monooxygenases was probably the major mechanism of pyrethroid resistance. Pre-treatment with the synergist DEF, an inhibitor of esterases and the glutathione S-transferase system, resulted in a 2- to 3-fold synergism with monocrotophos indicating that esterases and possibly glutathione S-transferases were at least to some extent contributing to organophosphate resistance. © 1997 SCI.
The groundnut leafminer, Aproaerema modicella (Deventer) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is an important pest of several legume crops in South and South-East Asia. For groundnut, yield losses of >50% have been reported. In addition to groundnut and soybean (the main crops attacked), 12 alternative host plants have been reported. A. modicella is present throughout the region, although it has been studied most intensively in India and Thailand. Research conducted over the past 10 years has provided a good understanding of the biology, life cycle and natural enemies of this pest. Research on management has focused on chemical control. This paper reviews the literature on the host plants, distribution, biology and control of A. modicella, emphasizing research reported since 1980. Aspects of A. modicella ecology that need further study are also indicated.
Tomato fruitworm (TFW), Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), is the most destructive pest of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) in South and Southeast Asia. Research was initiated at AVRDC in 1980 to identify sources of resistance to this pest and to breed TFW-resistant tomato lines suitable for the region. Germplasm screening revealed high levels of TFW resistance only in the wild Lycopersicon species, particularly L. hirsutum and L. pennellii. Consequently TFW resistance breeding research focused on introgressing resistance from the wild species into the cultivated tomato. In the first resistance breeding efforts from 1981 to 1988, L. hirsutum accessions 76W-PI134417-A and 77W-PI134417-1 were selected as donor parents in a backcrossing program with L. esculentum. Backcross lines with significantly lower pest damage were derived from this program but all were invariably small-fruited and not commercially acceptable. From 1988 to 1995, a second attempt was undertaken using L. pennellii accession LA 716 as the resistance donor parent. Selection of resistant progenies was based initially on TFW damage and subsequently on acylsugar content, the compound that confers insect resistance, in leaves. We failed to find backcross progenies with acylsugar levels near that of the donor parent. Furthermore, progenies with higher acylsugar levels also showed low pollen production and other undesirable horticultural traits. From 1994 to 1996, in collaboration with Cornell University, an attempt was made to introgress the fruitworm resistance genes from LA 1777 (L. hirsutum f. typicum) using QTL mapping. However, none of the near isogenic lines carrying individual L. hirsutum introgressions associated with fruitworm resistance showed resistance. Our research demonstrated the presence of high levels of TFW-resistance in several wild tomato accessions but our efforts to introgress this resistance into the cultivated tomato in order to combine it with acceptable fruit qualities did not succeed. Future of such classical breeding approach is discussed.
The author first considers the concepts of "behaviouristic resistance" and "vigour tolerance". He concludes that neither phenomenon, if it exists at all, is likely to present a serious obstacle to major insect control schemes. On the other hand, physiological resistance is a real and important problem and the number of resistant species is growing at an alarming rate. However, since resistance is often localized and usually confined to one or a few insecticides, the full impact has not yet been felt. This situation is likely to change and resistance may eventually become sufficiently general to jeopardize the success of campaigns to eradicate malaria and other vector-borne diseases. The author discusses the various countermeasures that have been adopted on the recommendation of the WHO Expert Committee on Insecticides and adds some suggestions of his own for future research and for the application of insecticides in ways calculated to prevent or overcome resistance.
The soybean looper, Thysanoplusia orichalcea (F.), is a polyphagous insect pest of vegetable crops. Indonesian in origin, it has spread to Europe, India, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The identification of an attractant for female T. orichalcea could enable the development of alternative pest management strategies to those provided by insecticides or sex pheromones, which are often only attractive to males.
Traps baited with synthetic lures derived from Canada thistle, Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop., floral volatiles attracted female T. orichalcea. Phenylacetaldehyde, a floral compound attractive to many Lepidoptera and present in C. arvense, was tested alone as an attractant for the soybean looper and caught significantly more female than male T. orichalcea. Trap catch was greatest when phenylacetaldehyde was combined with five prevalent volatiles present in C. arvense headspace collections: 2-phenylethyl alcohol, methyl salicylate, dimethyl salicylate, benzaldehyde and benzyl alcohol. Twice as many female moths as males were collected.
Successful trapping of female T. orichalcea in either a lure-and-kill or a mass trapping system may offer an effective way to manage its population size.
Life-fecundity tables of leaf miner, Aproaerema modicella (Deventer) on three different host plants
- A G Badgujar
- S S Shetgar
- D D Patait
- S Subhan
- S S Dhurgude
- AG Badgujar
Survey and study of bionomics of major soybean insects and their chemical control
- A K Bhattacharya
- Y S Rathor
- AK Bhattacharya
Quantitative studies of food consumption and growth of Spodoptera litura on soybean
- A G Bughio
- T Hussain
- Z A Quaresh
- M Ahmad
- A R Shakoori
- AG Bughio
Biology of green semilooper on soybean
- M S Laute
- N V Patil
- U P Barkhade
- MS Laute
Obereopsis brevis. Crop-pest index
- Nbair
Studies on the insects of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] with special reference to bionomics and control of pod borer
- B D Adimani
Biology of chickpea pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera
- N J Bhatt
- P K Patel
- NJ Bhatt
An initial report of an experiment on controlling the agromyzid fly (Melanagromyza sojae) of soybean with carbofuron and the loss of yield caused by the pest
- J R Due
- L M Hong
- JR Due
Entomological meeting
- T B Fletcher
- TB Fletcher
Handbook on Hemipteran pests in India. Director, Zoological Survey of India
- L K Ghosh
- LK Ghosh
Origin, history and uses of soybean (Glycine max)
- L Gibson
- G Benson
Host plants. In: MJW C (ed) Bemisia tabaci - a literature survey: on the cotton whitefly with an annotated bibliography
- A H Greathead
- AH Greathead
The insect pest of soybean
- W H Luckmann
- WH Luckmann