Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T23:00:50.728Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Integrated pest management of plant sucking bugs (Hemiptera: Miridae) in Australian cotton: back to the future

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 December 2018

Richard V. Sequeira*
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture & Fisheries, Emerald, Queensland 4720, Australia
*
*Author for correspondence Phone: 61-749910810 Fax: 61-749837459 E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Creontiades dilutus (green mirid) and C. pacificus (brown mirid) are major hemipteran pests of transgenic (Bt) cotton in Australia. Current integrated pest management (IPM) guidelines for mirids in Australian cotton, based on economic thresholds and sampling recommendations, were developed and disseminated to industry at the start of the 2005–06 growing season and have remained largely unchanged since then. However, adoption of mirid IPM guidelines by industry has been highly variable and generally well below expectation. Annual surveys of crop protection practices across the Australian cotton industry, from 2010 to 2017, indicate that a third of all mirid sprays are applied below the recommended thresholds each year. More than half of all survey respondents in the 2017 survey indicated lack of confidence in the mirid thresholds due to highly variable and disproportionate damage, a phenomenon best described as the ‘mirid enigma’. A critical review of RD&E outputs since 1998 shows that potential contributors to the mirid enigma include but are not limited to biological, ecological and methodological factors. Mirid feeding damage is likely to vary with developmental stage, gender and reproductive status. Ecological factors including trophic effects and multiple host plant usage are potential modifiers of mirid feeding damage. Methodological and technological constraints and shortcomings are evident in the threshold research done to date. Inadequate commercial sampling that results in unreliable estimates of pest density in the crop is a major contributor to the mirid enigma. Failure to account for the complexity of factors that can influence the nature and severity of mirid damage to cotton often results in fruit loss due to non-mirid related factors being incorrectly attributed to mirids. An alternative approach to mirid management based on modelling the dynamics of net fruit load (production–loss) proposed over 15 years ago is discussed.

Type
Review Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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

Adams, G. & Pyke, B. (1982) Sap-sucking bugs – are they pests? The Australian Cottongrower 3, 4950.Google Scholar
Adams, G.D., Foley, D.H. & Pyke, B.A. (1984) Notes on the pest status of and sampling methods for sap-sucking bugs in cotton. Proceedings of the Australian Cotton Growers Research Conference, Toowoomba, pp. 160163.Google Scholar
Bodnaruk, K.P. (1992) Daily activity patterns of adult Creontiades dilutes (Stal) and Campylomma liebknechti (Girault) (Hemiptera: Miridae) in early-flowering cotton. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 31, 331332.Google Scholar
Brewer, M.J., Anderson, D.J., Armstrong, J.S. & Villanueva, R.T. (2012) Sampling strategies for square and boll-feeding plant bugs (Hemiptera: Miridae) occurring on cotton. Journal of Economic Entomology 105, 896905.Google Scholar
Brewer, M.J., Anderson, D.J. & Armstrong, J.S. (2013) Plant growth stage-specific injury and economic injury level for Verde Plant Bug, Creontiades signatus (Hemiptera: Miridae), on cotton: effect of bloom period of infestation. Journal of Economic Entomology 106, 20772083.Google Scholar
Buntin, G.D. (1994) Developing a primary sampling program. pp. 99118 in Pedigo, L.P. & Buntin, G.D. (Eds), Handbook of Sampling Methods for Arthropods in Agriculture. Boca Raton, Florida, CRC Press.Google Scholar
Chinajariywong, A. (1988) The sap-sucking bugs attacking cotton: biological aspects and economic damage. PhD Thesis, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.Google Scholar
Chinajariywong, A., Pyke, B. & Walter, G. (1988) Sap sucking bugs – pest status and threshold research. The Australian Cottongrower 9(3), 3132.Google Scholar
Cooper, W.R. & Spurgeon, D.W. (2012) Injury to cotton by adult Lygus hesperus (Hemiptera: Miridae) of different gender and reproductive states. Environmental Entomology 41, 342348.Google Scholar
Deutscher, S., Dillon, M., McKinnon, C., Mansfield, S., Staines, T. & Lawrence, L. (2003) Giving insects a good beating. The Australian Cottongrower 24(3), 2428.Google Scholar
Duggan, B. (2006) Damage syndromes, economic thresholds and tolerance of cotton to green mirids. CRDC Project No. CSP162 Final Report. CRDC Narrabri, NSW.Google Scholar
Farrell, T. & Johnson, A. (Eds) (2005) Cotton Pest Management Guide 2005–06. Narrabri, NSW, NSW Department of Primary Industries.Google Scholar
Gillooly, J.F., Charnov, E.L., West, G.B., Savage, V.M & Brown, J.H. (2002) Effects of size and temperature on developmental time. Nature 417, 7073.Google Scholar
Gore, J., Catchot, A., Musser, F., Greene, J., Leonard, B.R., Cook, D.R., Snodgrass, G.L. & Jackson, R. (2012) Development of a plant-based threshold for tarnished plant bug (Hemiptera: Miridae) in cotton. Journal of Economic Entomology 105, 20072014.Google Scholar
Grostal, P. & Dicke, M. (1999) Direct and indirect cues of predation risk influence behaviour and reproduction of prey: a case for acarine interactions. Behavioural Ecology 10, 422427.Google Scholar
Guinn, G. (1982) Causes of square and boll shedding in cotton. U.S. Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin No. 1672, 21 pp.Google Scholar
Hereward, J.P. & Walter, G.H. (2012) Molecular interrogation of the feeding behaviour of field captures individual insects for interpretation of multiple host plant use. PLoS ONE 7, e44435.Google Scholar
Hereward, J.P., DeBarro, P.J. & Walter, G.H. (2013) Resolving multiple host use of an emergent pest of cotton with microsatellite data and chloroplast markers (Creontiades dilutus Stål; Hemiptera, Miridae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 103, 611618.Google Scholar
Herron, G.A. & Wilson, L.J. (2016) Mite resistance danger from over-use of abamectin. The Australian Cottongrower 37(1), 1416.Google Scholar
Jubb, G.L. & Carruth, L.A. (1971) Growth and yield of caged cotton plants infested with nymphs and adults of Lygus hesperus. Journal of Economic Entomology 64, 12291236.Google Scholar
Khan, M. (1999) Aspects of the biology, ecology and management of the green mirid Creontiades dilutes (Stål) in Australian cotton. PhD Thesis, University of New England.Google Scholar
Khan, M. (2008) Improved understanding of the damage, ecology and management of mirids and stinkbugs in Bollgard II. CRDC Project No. DAQ131 Final Report. CRDC Narrabri, NSW.Google Scholar
Khan, M. (2011) Mirid and stinkbug management in Bollgard II. Cotton CRC Project No. 1.01.61 CRC155 Final Report. Cotton CRC, Narrabri, NSW.Google Scholar
Khan, M. (2014) Management of mirids, stinkbugs and Solenopsis mealybug. CRDC Project No. DAQ1204 Final Report. CRDC Narrabri, NSW.Google Scholar
Khan, M., Quade, A. & Murray, D. (2006) Mirid damage assessment in Bollgard II® – critical damage stage and action thresholds at different stages in irrigated and raingrown cotton. 13th Australian Cotton Conference Proceedings, Broadbeach, pp. 543554.Google Scholar
Legg, D.E. & Moon, R.D. (1994) Bias and variability in statistical estimates. pp. 5572 in Pedigo, L.P. & Buntin, G.D. (Eds) Handbook of Sampling Methods for Arthropods in Agriculture. Boca Raton, Florida, CRC Press.Google Scholar
Lei, T. (2000) Compensation in cotton following pest damage: potential and limitation. 10th Australian Cotton Conference Proceedings – Cotton Meeting the Challenge, Brisbane. pp. 143150.Google Scholar
Maas, S. & Redfern, R. (Eds) (2017) Cotton Pest Management Guide 2017–18. Toowoomba, Australia, Greenmount Press.Google Scholar
Malipatil, M.B. & Cassis, G. (1997) Taxonomic review of Creontiades distant in Australia (Hemiptera: Miridae). Australian Journal of Entomology 36, 113.Google Scholar
Mansfield, S., Dillon, M.L. & Whitehouse, M.E.A. (2006) Are arthropod communities in cotton really disrupted? An assessment of insecticide regimes and evaluation of the beneficial disruption index. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment 113, 326335.Google Scholar
McColl, S.A., Khan, M. & Umina, P.A. (2011) Review of the biology and control of Creontiades dilutus (Stål) (Hemiptera: Miridae). Australian Journal of Entomology 50, 107117.Google Scholar
Mensah, R.K. (2002) Development of an integrated pest management programme for cotton. Part 1. Establishing and utilizing natural enemies. International Journal of Pest Management 48, 8794.Google Scholar
Miles, M. (1995) Identification, pest status, ecology and management of the green mirid, Creontiades dilutes (Stål) (Hemiptera: Miridae), a pest of cotton in Australia. PhD Thesis, University of Queensland.Google Scholar
Musser, F., Stewart, S., Bagwell, R., Lorenz, G., Catchot, A., Burris, E., Cook, D., Robbins, J., Greene, J., Studebaker, G. & Gore, J. (2007) Comparison of direct and indirect sampling methods for tarnished plant bug (Hemiptera: Miridae) in flowering cotton. Journal of Economic Entomology 100, 19161923.Google Scholar
Musser, F., Catchot, A.L., Stewart, S.D., Bagwell, R.D., Lorenz, G.M., Tindall, K.V., Studebaker, G.E., Leonard, B.R., Akin, S.D., Cook, D.R. & Daves, C.A. (2009) Tarnished plant bug (Hemiptera: Miridae) thresholds and sampling comparisons for flowering cotton in the midsouthern United States. Journal of Economic Entomology 102, 18271836.Google Scholar
Naranjo, S.E. (2001) Conservation and evaluation of natural enemies in IPM systems for Bemisia tabaci. Crop Protection 20, 835852.Google Scholar
Oosterhuis, D. M. & Jernstedt, J. (1999) Morphology and anatomy of the cotton plant. pp. 175206 in Smith, C.W. & Cothren, J.T. (Eds) Cotton: Origin, History, Technology and Production. New York, John Wiley & Sons Inc.Google Scholar
Pedigo, (1996) Entomology and Pest Management. 2nd edn. Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice-Hall Pub. 679 pp.Google Scholar
Pedigo, L.P., Hutchins, S.H. & Higley, L.G. (1986) Economic injury levels in theory and practice. Annual Review of Entomology 31, 341368.Google Scholar
Ratte, H.T. (1984) Temperature and insect development. pp. 3366 in Hoffmann, K.H. (Ed) Environmental Physiology and Biochemistry of Insects. Berlin, Heidelberg, Springer.Google Scholar
Rosenheim, J.A., Goeriz, R.E. & Thacher, E.F. (2004) Omnivore or herbivore? Field observations of foraging by Lygus hesperus (Hemiptera: Miridae). Environmental Entomology 33, 13621370.Google Scholar
Sadras, V.O. (1995) Compensatory growth in cotton after loss of reproductive organs. Field Crops Research 40, 118.Google Scholar
Sadras, V.O. & Fitt, G.P. (1997) Resistance to insect herbivory of cotton lines: quantification of recovery capacity after damage. Field Crops Research 52, 127134.Google Scholar
Scales, A.L. & Furr, R.E. (1968) Relationship between the tarnished plant bug and deformed cotton plants. Journal of Economic Entomology 61, 114118.Google Scholar
Schmitz, O.J. & Suttle, K.B. (2001) Effects of top predator species on direct and indirect interactions in a food web. Ecology 82, 20722081.Google Scholar
Schmitz, O.J., Beckerman, A.P. & O'Brien, K.M. (1997) Behaviourally mediated trophic cascades: effects of predation risk on food web interactions. Ecology 78, 13881399.Google Scholar
Simpson, G. (2001) Thresholds for green mirids in cotton. CRDC Project No. DAQ84C Final Report. CRDC Narrabri, NSW.Google Scholar
Simpson, G., Murray, D. & Lloyd, R. (1997) Simple, reliable sampling for green mirids in cotton. The Australian Cottongrower 18(5), 5054.Google Scholar
Southwood, T.R.E. (1978) Ecological Methods with Particular Reference to the Study of Insect Populations. London, UK, Chapman & Hall.Google Scholar
Tariq, M., Yasmeen, A., Ahmad, S., Hussain, N., Afzal, M.N. & Hasanuzzaman, M. (2017) Shedding of fruiting structures in cotton: factors, compensation and prevention. Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems 20, 251262.Google Scholar
Threlfall, C., Deutscher, S., Wilson, L. & Staines, T. (2005) Sweeping up mirids gives a net improvement. The Australian Cottongrower 26(7), 5557.Google Scholar
Tugwell, P., Young, S.C., Dumas, B.A. & Phillips, J.R. (1976) Plant bugs in cotton: importance of infestation time, types of cotton injury, and significance of wild hosts near cotton. Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Report. Report Series 227, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR.Google Scholar
van Veen, F.J., Morris, R.J. & Godfray, H.C.J. (2006) Apparent competition, quantitative food webs, and the structure of phytophagous insect communities. Annual Review of Entomology 51, 187208.Google Scholar
Wade, M., Scholz, B., Lloyd, R., Cleary, A., Franzmann, B. & Zalucki, M. (2006) Temporal variation in arthropod sampling effectiveness: the case for using the beat sheet method in cotton. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 120, 139153.Google Scholar
Wheeler, A.G. Jr. (2001) Biology of the Plant Bugs (Hemiptera: Miridae): Pests, Predators, Opportunists. Hong Kong, China, Cornell University Press.Google Scholar
Whitehouse, M.E.A. (2008) Mirid Predation. Cotton CRC Project No. 1.01.10 CRC252 Final Report. Cotton CRC, Narrabri, NSW.Google Scholar
Whitehouse, M.E.A. (2011) IPM of mirids in Australian cotton: why and when pest managers spray for mirids. Agricultural Systems 104, 3041.Google Scholar
Whitehouse, M.E.A., Wilson, L.J. & Fitt, G.P. (2005) A comparison of arthropod communities in transgenic Bt and conventional cotton in Australia. Environmental Entomology 34, 12241241.Google Scholar
Wilson, L.T. (1994) Estimating abundance, impact and interactions among arthropods in cotton agroecosystems. pp. 475514 in Pedigo, L.P. & Buntin, G.D. (Eds) Handbook of Sampling Methods for Arthropods in Agriculture. Boca Raton, Florida, CRC Press.Google Scholar
Wilson, L.J., Bauer, L.R. & Lally, D.A. (1998) Effects of early season insecticide use on predators and outbreaks of spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) in cotton. Bulletin of Entomological Research 88, 477488.Google Scholar
Wilson, L.J., Sadras, V.O., Heimoana, S.C. & Gibb, D. (2003) How to succeed by doing nothing: cotton compensation after simulated early season pest damage. Crop Science 43, 21252134.Google Scholar
Wilson, L., Downes, S., Khan, M., Whitehouse, M., Baker, G., Grundy, P. & Maas, S. (2013) IPM in the transgenic era: a review of the challenges from emerging pests in Australian cotton systems. Crop & Pasture Science 64, 737749.Google Scholar
Wilson, L.J., Whitehouse, M.E.A. & Herron, G.A. (2018) The management of insect pests in Australian cotton: an evolving story. Annual Review of Entomology 63, 215237.Google Scholar
Zink, A.G. & Rosenheim, J.A. (2005) Stage-dependent feeding behaviour by western tarnished plant bugs influences flower bud abscission in cotton. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 117, 235242.Google Scholar