The western corn rootworm has overcome crop rotation in several areas of the central United States. We expanded a simple model of adult behavior and population genetics to explain how rotation resistance may have developed and to study ways to manage the western corn rootworm in areas where evolution may occur. We modeled six alternative management strategies as well as a strategy involving a 2-yr rotation of corn and soybean to investigate their effectiveness from both a biological and economic perspective. Generally, resistance to crop rotation evolves in fewer than 15 years and the rate of evolution increases as the level of rotated landscape (selection pressure) increases. The two most successful strategies were the use of transgenic rotated corn in a 2–yr rotation and a 3-yr rotation of corn, soybean and wheat with unattractive wheat (for oviposition) preceding corn. Economically, three alternative strategies were robust solutions to the problem, if technology fees are not too high. Repellant soybeans, attractive rotated corn, and transgenic rotated corn, all in 2-yr rotations, were economically valuable approaches. These results will help guide IPM and IRM management decisions for rotation-resistant western corn rootworms.
Species 1: Coleoptera Chrysomelidae Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (western corn rootworm)
Keywords: modelling
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