Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-05T02:29:36.798Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of plant density on populations of the cabbage root fly (Erioischia brassicae (Bch.)) and the cabbage stem weevil (Ceutorhynchus quadridens (Panz.)) on cauliflowers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

S. Finch  and
G. Skinner
S. Finch
Affiliation:
National Vegetable Research Station, Wellesbourne, Warwick, CV35 9EF, England
G. Skinner
Affiliation:
National Vegetable Research Station, Wellesbourne, Warwick, CV35 9EF, England
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

To study the effects of plant density on populations of the cabbage root fly (Erioischia brassicae (Bch.) ) and the cabbage stem weevil (Ceutorhynchus quadridens (Panz.)), cauliflowers were planted in 24 concentric circles to achieve spacings of 10–90 cm at 22 plant densities (1·5–83/m2). Some plants were treated with a root drench of chlorfenvinphos. Each week female cabbage root flies laid approximately three times as many eggs per individual plant at the lowest than at the highest plant densities tested. This was equivalent to approximately 350 and 5000 eggs/m2, respectively. The numbers of cabbage root fly pupae produced ranged from 11/m2 at the lowest to 210/m2 at the highest plant density. In the absence of an insecticide, increasing the plant density considerably increased the absolute population of the pest without affecting cauliflower yield. Approximately seven times as many flies were produced per unit area of untreated mini-cauliflowers as from an equivalent area of plants growing at a conventional density. When chlorfenvinphos was not applied, damage by the cabbage stem weevil occurred in 30% and 70% of the plants grown at the lowest and highest densities, respectively.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 66 , Issue 1 , March 1976 , pp. 113 - 123
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1976

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bleasdale, J. K. A. (1967a). Systematic designs for spacing experiments.—Expl Agric. 3, 78–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bleasdale, J. K. A. (1967b). The relationship between the weight of a plant part and total weight as affected by plant density.—J. hort. Sci. 42, 51–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bleasdale, J. K. A. (1973). Plant physiology in relation to horticulture.—144 pp. London, Macmillan.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coaker, T. H. (1966). The effect of soil insecticides on the predators and parasites of the cabbage root fly (Erioischia brassicae (Bouché)) and on the subsequent damage caused by the pest.—Ann. appl. Biol. 57, 397–407.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Finch, S. & Coaker, T. H. (1969). A method for the continuous rearing of the cabbage root fly Erioischia brassicae (Bch.) and some observations on its biology.—Bull. ent. Res. 58, 619–627.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Finch, S., Skinner, G. & Freeman, G. H. (1975). The distribution and analysis of cabbage root fly egg populations.—Ann. appl. Biol. 79, 1–18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hassan, S. A. (1969). Observations on the effect of insecticides on coleopterous predators of Erioischia brassicae (Diptera: Anthomyiidae).—Entomologia exp. appl. 12, 157–168.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hughes, R. D. & Salter, D. D. (1959). Natural mortality of Erioischia brassicae (Bouché) (Diptera, Anthomyiidae) during the immature stages of the first generation.—J. Anim. Ecol. 28, 231–241.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Keilin, D. (1917). Récherches sur les Anthomyides à larves carnivores.—Parasitology 9, 325–450.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mitchell, B. (1963). Ecology of two carabid beetles, Bembidion lampros (Herbst.) and Trechus quadristriatus (Schrank). II. Studies on populations of adults in the field, with special reference to the technique of pitfall trapping.J. Anim. Ecol. 32, 377–392.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morris, R. F. (1960). Control of root maggots in swede turnips in Newfoundland with heptachlor and aldrin and the effect on parasites and overwintering pupae.—J. econ. Ent. 53, 65–67.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nelder, J. A. (1962). New kinds of systematic designs for spacing experiments.—Biometrics 18, 283–307.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
O'Donnell, M. (1974). Integrated control by intra-crop diversity. Working group on ‘Integrated control in Brassicae crops’. IOBC/WPRS, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Read, D. C. (1960). Effect of soil treatments of heptachlor and parathion on predators and parasites of root maggots attacking rutabagas on Prince Edward Island.—J. econ. Ent. 53, 932–935.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Salter, P. J. (1971). Mini-cauliflowers.—Agriculture 78, 231–235.Google Scholar
Thompson, A. R. (1972). Insecticides. Cabbage root fly control—on mini-cauliflowers.—Rep. nat. Veg. Res. Stn 1971, 65–66.Google Scholar
Thompson, A. R., Price, J. L. & Roberts, H. A. (1974). Pesticides. Plant responses to pesticides—field experiment.—Rep. nat. Veg. Res. Stn 1973, 81–82.Google Scholar