Project Number: 6202-22320-001-01
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Sep 01, 2003
End Date: Aug 31, 2008

Objective:
Quantify the agronomic benefits of bat predation of cotton insect pests, and contribute to the development of an agroecosystem model for conservation biology and crop productivity.

Approach:
Insect flight activity and infestation in corn fields will be assessed before, during, and after the oviposition by insects in silking corn, and as adults emerge, disperse, and infest other crops. Cotton fields will be monitored before and during the periods of local emergence of moths from adjacent cornfields. To identify the timing and intensity of infestation, wire cone traps will be placed along the perimeter of the corn and cotton fields. Traps will be baited with pheromone lures that will be replaced every two weeks. Moths will be collected from the traps bi-weekly from March 1 to May 31, and daily from June 1 to July 31, or until the crops are no longer suitable hosts for corn earworms. Study plots (2.5 ha each) will be established on commercial farms with large fields of corn and cotton. Farms will be chosen that are in an area of documented high bat activity (e.g., the Winter Garden agricultural region near Frio Cave). We will establish four plots in corn and four plots in cotton. The plots will be a minimum of 100 m apart to accommodate the possible evaluation of novel pest management practices. Each plot will be surveyed for eggs, larvae, and cutouts twice weekly from June 1 to July 31. Pupae will be excavated from four 1-m2 areas in each corn plot and placed in emergence tubes on or about June 15. Emergence tubes will be inspected daily to determine the dates, species, and sex of newly emerged corn earworms and other noctuids. Approximately three weeks after peak oviposition in corn, infrared-illuminated videography recordings will be used to monitor large numbers of adult progeny which emerge and disperse nightly to fruiting cotton that is attractive to ovipositing females. This monitoring schedule will document the arrival, oviposition, and development of pests in corn and their dispersal and infestation in cotton.

Project Team

Westbrook, John

Related National Programs

Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)   Crop Production (305)