Corn rootworms (CRW) are economically and environmentally important pests of corn in the U.S. Corn Belt. We used Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to study the spatial relationships of corn rootworms in the South Dakota Areawide Management Site from 1997 – 2001. For each year, we calculated class-level landscape metrics on continuous corn, first year corn, and all corn. Based on CRW captured in Pherocon AM yellow sticky traps, we used the inverse distance weighted interpolation technique to create raster map layers of CRW spatial abundance, and focused our analyses on the interpolated maps in relation to topography, soil type, habitat structure, and landscape metrics. We found significant relationships of CRW spatial distribution with vegetation type, soil type, and elevation. We present these relationships with respect to edaphic factors and landscape metrics such as temporal shifts in size, shape, and arrangement of patches. Our research accentuates the potential role for GIS and landscape analyses in insect pest management by providing information on spatially explicit models and finding patterns in the landscape that promote high insect population densities.
Species 1: Coleoptera Chrysomelidae Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (Western Corn Rootworm)
Species 2: Coleoptera Chrysomelidae Diabrotica barberi (Northern Corn Rootworm)
Keywords: Geographic Information System, Pest Management
Back to Display Presentations, Section Cd. Behavior and Ecology
Back to Posters
Back to The 2003 ESA Annual Meeting and Exhibition