Oviposition response of the turnip moth to soil moisture

TY - JOUR

T1 - Oviposition response of the turnip moth to soil moisture

AU - Esbjerg, Peter

AU - Lauritzen, Anette Jansons

PY - 2010/1

Y1 - 2010/1

N2 - The survival of cutworms (Agrotis segetum Schiff., Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in northern Europe is highly dependent on soil moisture conditions, and the abundance and damage caused by this crop pest mirrors the weather conditions that determine the soil moisture. Experiments have demonstrated that soil moisture causes mortality of very young larvae, whereas medium-sized larvae suffer increased mortality if the soil is very moist. We therefore hypothesise an oviposition preference of the Turnip moth for dry soil, as such behaviour may favour the survival of offspring. The present study describes experiments on A. segetum oviposition, given a choice of dry or moist soil. Furthermore we tested whether soil moisture affected oviposition on dead plant stalks that were mimicked by a steel wire object. The main result is a clear oviposition preference for dry over moist soil, meaning that increased observational efforts may be needed to predict cutworm presence in row crops on sandy soils. Another result is that objects such as plant material will receive a certain proportion of the eggs, but the proportion decreases if the soil is dry.

AB - The survival of cutworms (Agrotis segetum Schiff., Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in northern Europe is highly dependent on soil moisture conditions, and the abundance and damage caused by this crop pest mirrors the weather conditions that determine the soil moisture. Experiments have demonstrated that soil moisture causes mortality of very young larvae, whereas medium-sized larvae suffer increased mortality if the soil is very moist. We therefore hypothesise an oviposition preference of the Turnip moth for dry soil, as such behaviour may favour the survival of offspring. The present study describes experiments on A. segetum oviposition, given a choice of dry or moist soil. Furthermore we tested whether soil moisture affected oviposition on dead plant stalks that were mimicked by a steel wire object. The main result is a clear oviposition preference for dry over moist soil, meaning that increased observational efforts may be needed to predict cutworm presence in row crops on sandy soils. Another result is that objects such as plant material will receive a certain proportion of the eggs, but the proportion decreases if the soil is dry.

U2 - 10.1080/09064710902741956

DO - 10.1080/09064710902741956

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0906-4710

VL - 60

SP - 89

EP - 94

JO - Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica - Section B

JF - Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica - Section B

IS - 1

ER -