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Impact of the soil insects African black beetle, Heteronychus arator (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) and Whitefringed weevil, Graphognathus leucoloma (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), on potatoes and effects of soil insecticide treatments in south-western Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

J.N. Matthiessen  and
S.E. Learmonth
J.N. Matthiessen*
Affiliation:
CSIRO Division of Entomology, Perth, Australia
S.E. Learmonth
Affiliation:
Horticultural Research Centre, Western Australian Department of Agriculture, Manjimup, Australia
*
J.N. Matthiessen, CSIRO Division of Entomology, Private Bag, PO, Wembley, W.A. 6014, Australia.
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Abstract

Populations of the soil insects African black beetle, Heteronychus arator (Fabricius), and whitefringed weevil, Graphognathus leucoloma (Boheman), and the damage caused to potato crops in south-western Australia were measured with and without the insecticide chlorpyrifos incorporated into the soil prior to planting. Low populations of both insects were highly damaging. Destruction of stems by H. arator reduced tuber yield and both species damaged tubers from the time of their formation. Tuber damage increased with time because both insect species on average damaged multiple tubers and caused multiple attacks on tubers. Growth of G. leucoloma larvae caused increased abundance of the more damaging later instars in spring. The insecticide reduced resident H. arator abundance and hence damage to newly-emerging potato stems in summer, but had less effect on reducing attacks on tubers in summer crops because adult beetles flew into some crops during growth. Exceptionally high tuber damage per H. arator adult in winter crops was ascribed to enhanced activity during its spring breeding season. The insecticide was inconsistent in reducing the abundance of G. leucoloma larvae. Insecticidal effects were greatest near the soil surface, resulting in an increase in the relative proportion of both insects deeper in the soil. Since a greater proportion of the tubers occurred there, the resulting greater potential for the insects to cause tuber damage tended to outweigh reduction in their abundance.

Type
Research Article
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 85 , Issue 1 , March 1995 , pp. 101 - 111
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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