Influence of crop management practices on bean foliage arthropods

Abstract

Crop management practices can affect the population of phytophagous pest species and beneficial arthropods with consequences for integrated pest management. In this study, we determined the effect of no-tillage and crop residue management on the arthropod community associated with the canopy of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Abundance and species composition of herbivorous, detritivorous, predaceous and parasitoid arthropods were recorded during the growing seasons of 2003 and 2004 in Coimbra County, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Arthropod diversity and guild composition were similar among crop management systems, but their abundance was higher under no-tillage relative to conventional cultivation and where residues from the preceding crop were maintained in the field. Thirty-four arthropod species were recorded, and those most representative of the impact of the crop management practices were Hypogastrura springtails, Empoasca kraemeri and Circulifer leafhoppers, and Solenopsis ants. The infestation levels of major insect-pests, especially leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), was on average seven-fold lower under no-tillage with retention of crop residues relative to the conventional system with removal of residues, whereas the abundance of predatory ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and springtails (Collembola: Hypogastruridae) were, respectively, about seven- and 15-fold higher in that treatment. Importantly, a significant trophic interaction among crop residues, detritivores, predators and herbivores was observed. Plots managed with no-tillage and retention of crop residues had the highest bean yield, while those with conventional cultivation and removal of the crop residues yielded significantly less beans. This research shows that cropping systems that include zero tillage and crop residue retention can reduce infestation by foliar insect-pests and increase abundance of predators and detritivores, thus having direct consequences for insect pest management.

The Potential Role of Scattered Trees for Ant Conservation in an Agriculturally Dominated Neotropical Landscape

“…In fact, a recent study has shown that soil tillage dramatically reduces the abundance of Solenopsis ants (Pereira et al . ).…”

“…Such recurrent disturbances are likely to have a negative impact on ground-dwelling species. In fact, a recent study has shown that soil tillage dramatically reduces the abundance of Solenopsis ants (Pereira et al 2010).…”

Management of occupational Hymenoptera allergy

“…Conventional cultivation changes the diversity of insects; the infestation levels of Formicidae were found about seven-fold higher under certain agricultural methods compared with no-tillage [9]. Invasive ants are among the world's most damaging pests [10,11].…”

Ant diversity (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and predation by ants on the different stages of the sugarcane borer life cycle Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

“…Solenopsis (Way & Heong, 2009;Pereira et al, 2010), Crematogaster, Pheidole (Fowler, 1993;Pereira et al, 2004;Philpott et al, 2008c;Schatz et al, 2008), Ectatomma, Gnamptogenys and Dorymyrmex species control D. saccharalis populations (Sousa-Silva et al, 1992;Rossi & Fowler, 2004). However, this study shows that Dorymyrmex brunneus (Forel, 1908) is of little importance in the biological control of borers, as it was infrequently observed attacking the different stages of the D. saccharalis life cycle.…”