Abstract
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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica - Section B |
| Volume | 60 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Pages (from-to) | 89-94 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| ISSN | 0906-4710 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2010 |