Refuge is an important component of a strategy to delay insect resistance to transgenic corn hybrids, because it provides susceptible insects to mate with potential resistant insects. Presently growers plant a minimum of 20% field con as a refuge. In this study, popcorn was evaluated for its usefulness as a refuge crop for Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) and the Diabrotica complex. The goal is to provide growers with a refuge option for both insect pests that require less than 20% of the crop. The effects of several popcorn varieties on O. nubilalis density and distribution were investigated on four farms. How popcorn affected the density, survival, and size of Diabrotica beetles also were observed. Results from these experiments, show that popcorn can be an efficient refuge for both insect pests.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Crambidae Ostrinia nubilalis (European corn borer)
Species 2: Coleoptera Chrysomelidae Diabrotica virgifera (western corn rootworm)
Species 3: Coleoptera Chrysomelidae Diabrotica barberi (northern corn rootworm)
Keywords: refuge, transgenic corn
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA