Brookings, South Dakota Site Logo
ARS Home About Us Helptop nav spacerContact Us En Espanoltop nav spacer
Printable VersionPrintable Version     E-mail this pageE-mail this page
Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture
Search
  Advanced Search
Programs and Projects
Midwestern Carabidologists
 

Research Project: PEST BIOLOGY, ECOLOGY, AND INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Location: Brookings, South Dakota

Title: GROUND BEETLES AS WEED CONTROL AGENTS: EFFECTS OF FARM MANAGEMENT ON GRANIVORY

Author

Submitted to: American Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: October 3, 2005
Publication Date: November 1, 2005
Citation: Lundgren, J.G. 2005. Ground beetles as weed control agents: effects of farm management on granivory. American Entomologist. 51(4): 224-226.

Interpretive Summary: This short article describes suitability of seeds for two granivorous ground beetles in the laboratory and a field-scale study on farm management intensity on seed predation of weeds. Under no-choice condition, the relative consumption rate by Anisodactylus sanctaecrucis and Harpalus pensylvanicus of giant ragweed, giant foxtail, broccoli, alfalfa, crabgrass, velvetleaf, redroot pigweed, ivyleaf morning glory, and common lambsquarters were recorded. For A. sanctaecrucis, the pigweed, foxtail, and ragweed were not offered, but red fescue was. Weekly seed removal rates from Petri dishes of the above-listed weeds were monitored over three weeks in three different systems. The systems were vegetable, cash grain, and pasture, and were intended to mimic strategies used by farmers to transition to organic production. Laboratory tests revealed that lambsquarters seed was most acceptable to both beetle species. However, the other seed species varied in their acceptability between the two beetles. In the field, farm management intensity influenced seed removal rates, with highest granivory occurring in pasture systems. Also, granivorous insects had a clear preference for certain seed species under field conditions.

Technical Abstract: Here, I describe the suitability of seeds for two granivorous ground beetles in the laboratory and a field-scale study on farm management intensity on seed predation of weeds. Under no-choice condition, the relative consumption rate by Anisodactylus sanctaecrucis and Harpalus pensylvanicus of giant ragweed, giant foxtail, broccoli, alfalfa, crabgrass, velvetleaf, redroot pigweed, ivyleaf morning glory, and common lambsquarters were recorded over a 48 h period. For A. sanctaecrucis, the pigweed, foxtail, and ragweed were not offered, but red fescue was. Weekly seed removal rates from Petri dishes of the above-listed weeds were monitored over three weeks in three different systems. The systems were vegetable, cash grain, and pasture, and were intended to mimic strategies used by farmers to transition to organic production. Laboratory tests revealed that lambsquarters seed was most acceptable to both beetle species. However, the other seed species varied in their acceptability between the two beetles. In the field, farm management intensity influenced seed removal rates, with highest granivory occurring in pasture systems. Also, granivorous insects had a clear preference for certain seed species under field conditions.

   

 
Project Team
Riedell, Walter
Dashiell, Kenton
Lundgren, Jonathan
French, Bryan - Wade
Hesler, Louis
Anderson, Randal - Randy
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)
 
 
Last Modified: 10/08/2008
ARS Home | USDA.gov | Site Map | Policies and Links 
FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Nondiscrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | White House