The Distribution of European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Moths in Pivot-Irrigated Corn

Abstract

The European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), is a damaging pest of numerous crops including corn, potato, and cotton. An understanding of the interaction between O. nubilalis and its spatial environment may aid in developing pest management strategy. Over a 2-yr period, approximately 8,000 pheromone trap catches of O. nubilalis were recorded on pivot-irrigated corn in northeastern Colorado. The highest weekly moth capture per pivot-irrigated field occurred on the week of 15 July 1997 at 1,803 moths captured. The lowest peak moth capture per pivot-irrigated field was recorded on the week of 4 June 1998 at 220 moths captured. Average trap catch per field ranged from approximately 1.6 moths captured per trap per week in 1997 to approximately 0.3 moths captured per trap per week in 1998. Using pheromone trap moth capture data, we developed a quantified understanding of the spatial distribution of adult male moths. Our findings suggest strong correlations between moth density and adjacent corn crops, prevailing wind direction, and an edge effect. In addition, directional component effects suggest that more moths were attracted to the southwestern portion of the crop, which has the greatest insolation potential. In addition to the tested predictor variables, we found a strong spatial autocorrelation signal indicating positive aggregations of these moths and that males from both inside and outside of the field are being attracted to within-field pheromone traps, which has implications for refuge strategy management.

Assessing the current and future biological control potential of Trichogramma ostriniae on its hosts Ostrinia furnacalis and Ostrinia nubilalis

“…Moth numbers will of course reflect additional landscape-level effects of crop availability and 'management', such as extensive and intensive spraying of insecticides. 57,58 The modelled distribution of O. nubilalis in North America overlaps with the main corn production areas and published distribution points for O. nubilalis 26,53,54 that are within the northeastern USA (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and nearby areas) and Canada (Quebec) (Fig. 5a).…”

“…The modelled distribution of O. nubilalis in North America overlaps with the main corn production areas and published distribution points for O. nubilalis that are within the northeastern USA (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and nearby areas) and Canada (Quebec) (Fig. a).…”

“…The modelled weekly growth index phenology (GI w ) was compared to field moth capture numbers from two locations in Spain (Pontevedra and Barrantes) for O. nubilalis validation in Europe . For North America, we tested our model performance with published data points …”

“…50 For North America, we tested our model performance with published data points. 26,53,54 www.soci.org L-H Wu et al…”

Scientific Opinion addressing the state of the science on risk assessment of plant protection products for non‐target arthropods

“…ECB moths often rest during the day in grassy field edges, thus the weedy areas surrounding fields probably provide refuge for ECB, but also for natural enemies (Bruck and Lewis, 1998). Merrill et al (2013) suggest strong correlations between ECB moth density and adjacent maize crops, prevailing wind direction and an edge effect. In addition, directional component effects suggest that more ECB moths were attracted to the south-western portion of the crop, which has the greatest insolation potential.…”