Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T00:22:15.207Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effect of Sitona discoideus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on lucerne yields in New Zealand

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

S. L. Goldson ,
C. B. Dyson ,
J. R. Proffitt ,
E. R. Frampton  and
J. A. Logan
S. L. Goldson
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Division, MAF, PO Box 24, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand
C. B. Dyson
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Division, MAF, PO Box 24, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand
J. R. Proffitt
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Division, MAF, PO Box 24, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand
E. R. Frampton
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Lincoln College, Canterbury, New Zealand
J. A. Logan
Affiliation:
National Research Advisory Council, New Zealand
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The impact of injury by larvae and adults of Sitona discoideus Gyllenhal on lucerne production was studied in two consecutive seasons at two adjacent sites near Christchurch, New Zealand. The root-feeding larvae were found to be more damaging than the adults; in the first cut in the 1982–83 season in a three-year-old stand, larvae reduced dry matter yield by 18%. In the wetter following season in a one-year-old stand, second and third cut losses of 43 and 30% dry matter production, respectively, were recorded. In both seasons, the lucerne had apparently substantially recovered from larval damage by the time of the last cuts. In the drier 1982–83 season, two cuts were taken compared with four in the 1983–84 season. Adult feeding was found to reduce second cut wet yields by 20–30% in the 1982–83 season but had no measurable effect in the 1983–84 season. In both seasons, manipulated ranges of larval densities showed that damage appeared only when larval populations were in excess of a distinct larval population density threshold. At larval densities less than this threshold, yield was unaffected; above the threshold, yield losses were independent of larval density. Such a yield response curve was found to be adequately described mathematically by a simple arctan model; this approach allowed the threshold to be further defined and overall estimates to be made of the yield losses arising from larval damage. The threshold occurred at about 1200 larvae/m2 in the dry season and about 2100 larvae/m2 in the wet season. This suggested moisture sensitivity and the possibility that the crop may enter a damage-induced dormancy related to that observed during a severe drought.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 75 , Issue 3 , September 1985 , pp. 429 - 442
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

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

Aeschlimann, J. P. (1979). Sampling methods and construction of life tables for Sitona humeralis populations (Col., Curculionidae) in Mediterranean climatic areas.—J. appl. Ecol. 16, 405–415.Google Scholar
Allen, P. G. (1971). Sitona humeralis Steph. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in South Australia.—Report, Agronomy Branch, Department of Agriculture, South Australia no. 35, 13 pp.Google Scholar
Allen, P. G. (1974). Sitona weevil.—J. Agric. S. Aust. 77, 58–59.Google Scholar
Bardner, R. & Fletcher, K. E. (1974). Insect infestations and their effects on the growth and yield of field crops: a review.—Bull. ent. Res. 64, 141–160.Google Scholar
El-Dessouki, S. A. (1971). Der Einfluss von Larven der Gattung Sitona (Col., Curculionidae) auf einige Leguminosen.—Z. angew. Ent. 67, 411–431.Google Scholar
Frampton, E. R. (1984). Implications for control of the seasonal pattern of Sitona discoideus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) larval establishment in Canterbury lucerne.—N.Z. J. exp. Agric. 12, 319–322.Google Scholar
Goldson, S. L. (1983). Field technique to establish a replicated range of sitona weevil densities.— pp. 30–32in Hartley M. J. & Popay A. J. (Eds.). Proceedings of the 36th New Zealand Weed and Pest Control ConferenceAngus Inn HastingsAugust 9 to 11Hamilton New Zealand, 1983.—292 pp. N.Z. Weed and Pest Control Soc., Inc.Google Scholar
Goldson, S. L., Frampton, E. R., Barratt, B. I. P. & Ferguson, C. M. (1984). The seasonal biology of Sitona discoideus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), an introduced pest of New Zealand lucerne.—Bull. ent. Res. 74, 249–259.Google Scholar
Goldson, S. L. & French, R. A. (1983). Age-related susceptibility of lucerne to sitona weevil, Sitona discoideus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), larvae and the associated patterns of adult infestation.—N.Z. Jl agric. Res. 26, 251–255.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Greenup, L. R. (1967). The sitona weevil—a pest of lucerne (Sitona humeralis).—Agric. Gaz., N.S.W. 78, 528–529.Google Scholar
Grossheim, N. A. (1928). Data for the study of the genus Sitona, Germ. [in Russian].—Trundy Mleev. sad.—ogorod. opyt. Sta. no. 17, 57 pp. (Seen in Rev, appl. Ent. (A) 17, 434–436).Google Scholar
Hopkins, D. (1979). Sitona weevil.—2 pp. South Australia, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Fact sheet no. 22/78, Agdex 622).Google Scholar
Kain, W. M. & Trought, T. E. T. (1982). Insect pests of lucerne in New Zealand.—pp. 49–59 in Wynn-Williams, R. B. (Ed.). Lucerne for the 80's.—Special Publication, Agronomy Society of New Zealand no.1, 160 pp.Google Scholar
Kwong, Sue, Ferro, D. N. & Emberson, R. M. (1980). Life history and seasonal ovarian development of Sitona humeralis/ (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in New Zealand.—N.Z. Ent. 7, 165–169.Google Scholar
Leach, G. J. (1967). Growth and development of lucerne.—pp. 15–21in Langer, R. H. M. (Ed.). The lucerne crop.—314 pp. Wellington, New Zealand, A. H. and A. W. Reed.Google Scholar
Morrison, W. P., Pass, B. C., Nichols, M. P. & Armbrust, E. J. (1974). The literature of arthropods associated with alfalfa. II. A bibliography of the Sitona species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).—Biol. Notes nat. Hist. Surv. Div. St. Ill no. 88, 24 pp.Google Scholar
Moulden, J. (1973). The biology of Sitona species with particular reference to S. humeralis.—Report, Agronomy Branch, Department of Agriculture, South Australia no. 44, 41 pp.Google Scholar
Parton, W. J. & Innis, G. S. (1972). Some graphs and their functional forms.—Technical Report, U.S. International Biological Program no. 153, 41 pp.Google Scholar
Ray, A. A. (Ed.) (1982). SAS users guide: statistics.—384 pp. Cary, North Carolina, USA, SAS Institute.Google Scholar
Rotrekl, J. (1981). Škodlivost larev listopasa pruhovaného (Sitona humeralis) na vojtěšce.—Sbornik Úvtiz Ochrana Rostlin 17, 265–272.Google Scholar
Southwood, T. R. E. & Norton, G. A. (1973). Economic aspects of pest management strategies and decisions.—Mem. Ecol. Soc. Aust. no. 1, 168–181.Google Scholar
Tammes, P. M. L. (1961). Studies of yield losses. II. Injury as a limiting factor of yield.—Tijdschr. PlZiekt. 67, 257–263. (Seen in Hort. Abstr. 31, abst. 5601).Google Scholar
Trought, T. E. T. & Stringer, G. F. (1976). Chemical control of sitona weevil on lucerne.—pp. 28.—30in Hartley, M. J. (Ed.). Proceedings of the 29th Weed and Pest Control ConferenceHotel Russley ChristchurchAugust 3 to 5Hamilton New Zealand, 1976.—251 pp. N.Z. Weed and Pest Control Soc., Inc.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wynn-Williams, R. B. (1982).—p. 59 in Wynn-Williams, R. B. (Ed.). Lucerne for the 80's.—Special Publication, Agronomy Society of New Zealand no. 1, 160 pp.Google Scholar
Yakhontov, V. V. (1935). Contribution to the biology and economic importance of the beetles of the genus Sitona Germ.—pests of lucerne in Central Asia [Russian].—Sots. Nauka Tekh. 3 (11), 53–59. (Seen in Rev, appl. Ent. (A) 24, 747).Google Scholar