The 2005 ESA Annual Meeting and Exhibition
December 15-18, 2005
Ft. Lauderdale, FL

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Thursday, December 15, 2005 - 8:35 AM
0039

Effects of carbon dioxide fertilization on the life history of arthropod pests in greenhouses: Fecundity of Madeira mealybug

Juang-horng Chong, chongj@uga.edu1, Marc W. Van Iersel2, and Ronald Oetting, roettin@gaes.griffin.peachnet.edu1. (1) University of Georgia, Department of Entomology, 1109 Experiment Street, Griffin, GA, (2) University of Georgia, Department of Horticulture, Plant Sciences Building, Athens, GA

Carbon dioxide fertilization aims at stimulating plant growth by increases the atmospheric carbon dioxide level within a greenhouse. Elevated carbon dioxide level significantly impacts the physiology of the crops, the biology of the herbivores through insect-plant interactions, and the tritrophic interactions between natural enemies, herbivores and plants. The response of arthropod herbivores to the changes in plant nutritional value in situation of elevated carbon dioxide level is highly variable and depends on their specific modes of feeding and the host plants. Foliage feeders feeding on plant foliar tissues grown in elevated carbon dioxide level often increases consumption rate and suffers from reduced biomass accumulation and longer developmental time. Whole-cell feeders, leafminers and xylem feeders also suffer from reduced abundance and survivorship. The developmental and survival rates of aphids are increased in elevated carbon dioxide concentration, and shows variation on different host plants. We studied the interactive effect of temperature and carbon dioxide level on the biology of two generations of the Madeira mealybug. Temperature appeared to exert stronger influence on the development, survival and fecundity of the Madeira mealybug than the carbon dioxide level. The developmental rate, survival rate, and proportion of female progeny of the Madeira mealybug were increased at higher temperatures. No significant effect of elevated carbon dioxide level was detected in the study. The management of arthropod pests in greenhouse practicing carbon dioxide fertilization should take into considerations the biological response of the target pests to elevated carbon dioxide level and ambient temperature.


Species 1: Hemiptera Pseudococcidae Phenacoccus madeirensis (Madeira mealybug)
Keywords: Life history

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