Field trials were conducted in Genesee, Idaho in 2000 and 2001, to evaluate the incidence of Hessian fly under no-till (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) practices. Sampling was carried out throughout the growing season in large, replicated plots of the fly susceptible spring wheat, variety Penawawa. Plants were examined for presence of Hessian fly eggs, larvae and puparia, and number of insects per plant and percentage of plants infested determined. In general, the percentage of wheat plants infested with Hessian fly was greater in NT, than on CT plots. The mean number of flies per plant was also greater in NT compared to CT plots. Our results confirm that since Hessian fly survives on infested cereal stubble, NT practices have the potential to increase incidence and abundance of this pest.
Species 1: Diptera Cecidomyiidae Mayetiola destructor (Hessian fly)
Keywords: Hessian fly, tillage practices
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA