Monitoring and Controlling the Beet Leafhopper Circulifer tenellus in the Columbia Basin

Abstract

The beet leafhopper (BLH, Circulifer tenellus Baker) is a frequent pest of potatoes in the Columbia Basin of Oregon and Washington. Beet leafhoppers vector the causal agent of potato Purple top disease, known as Beet Leafhopper Transmitted Virescence Agent (BLTVA). Over 70 % of BLH in the region can be infected with BLVTA. Current control methods include making regular insecticide applications beginning in May; however it is unclear if those applications are needed. Thus, are insecticide applications necessary to control BLH and reduce BLTVA through the entire season? To answer that question, a field study was conducted in 2008 and 2009 to assess season-long control of BLH. There were 14 treatments, including the control, that were based on gradually eliminating insecticide applications weekly. Plots were sampled weekly for BLH and surveyed for Purple Top disease. Beet leafhoppers were sampled using sweep nets and an inverted leaf blower. Natural BLH populations were low in 2008 and 2009, but differed significantly among treatments in 2009 for inverted leaf blower and sweep net samples. Yields were assessed at the end of each season and no significant differences were found. Trends in the yield, BLH populations and BLTVA incidence support earlyseason insecticide application when BLH populations are low. The practice of using a calendar spray regime was not supported as yields were similar regardless of insecticide applications. As BLH populations were low, the results emphasized the importance of monitoring before making insecticide applications.Resumen La chicharrita del betabel (BLH, Circulifer tenellus Baker) es una plaga frecuente de las papas en la cuenca del Columbia de Oregón y Washington. Las chicharritas son vectores del agente causal de la enfermedad de la punta morada de la papa, conocida como el agente de la virescencia transmitida por la chicharrita del betabel BLTVA (siglas en inglés). Más del 70 % de BLH en la región pueden estar infectada con BLVTA. Los métodos actuales de control incluyen aplicaciones regulares de insecticidas empezando en Mayo; no obstante, no queda claro si esas aplicaciones son necesarias.De aquí que, ¿son necesarias las aplicaciones de insecticidas para controlar BLH y reducir BLTVA a lo largo de todo el ciclo de cultivo? Para contestar esta pregunta se condujo un estudio en 2008 y 2009 para analizar el control del BLH en todo el ciclo. Fueron 14 tratamientos, incluyendo el testigo, con base en la eliminación gradual de las aplicaciones semanales de insecticida. Se muestrearon los lotes semanalmente para BLH y se observó la enfermedad de la punta morada. Se muestrearon las chicharritas usando redes de barrido y una sopladora invertida de hojas. Las poblaciones naturales de BLH fueron bajas en 2008 y 2009, pero difirieron significativamente en las muestras entre los tratamientos en 2009 para la sopladora invertida de hojas y de las redes de barrido. Se analizaron los rendimientos al final de cada ciclo y no se encontraron diferencias significativas. Las tendencias en el rendim...

The Journey of the Potato Tuberworm Around the World

“…Locations with higher spring, summer, or fall temperatures were associated with increased trapping rates in most seasons; in the western USA, trapping data from spring 2004 to fall 2005 showed that P. operculella males were present every week except in mid-January, with the greatest P. operculella/per trap occurring in December at around −0.09°C [50,116,127]; also, "warm" winters may also account for high P. operculella populations the following season [14,116]. Similar observations were recorded in other insect species [128,129]. In Israel, P. operculella first generation reached its peak in May or June (late spring, early summer) [18], and overlapping generations reached high numbers close to harvest which seems to be a characteristic of nondiapausing insects that continuously have access to host plants [18,35,104,107,110,130,131].…”

Pests of selected bioenergy crops

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