Effects of Manure Applications and Mite Predation on

Corn Rootworm1 Populations in Minnesota2

H. C. CHJANC"

Department of Entomology, Fisheries, and Wildlife, University of Minnessota, St. Paul 5510]

ABSTRACT
Manure was applied in corn plots in 1967 at the ]'ate The effect of manure on mite populations dissipated in
of 50 tons per acre. The northern and western corn the following year, 1968, and the differencc in rootwon11
rootwonns, Diabrotica longiconzis (Say), and D. virgifera population also diminished. All the above facts suggcsted
LeConte, populations in these plots were reduced to that the predaceous mites were responsible for the Teduc-
about lutlf the level of those in the check plots. Quanti- tion in rootworm populations. Data also show that the

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tative observations of the predaceous arthropods in the
manured and the check plots showed that the total popu-
lations of ground beetles and spiders were not changed
because of the manure application. However, the popu-
lations of mites, both predaceous and non predaceous, were manured and check areas. This fact confirmed earlier
3 or more times as high in the manured as in the check
plots. On the basis of the vertical distribution of these
mites and of corn rootworms, it was concluded that the
predaceous mites could be feeding on corn rootwOrIns.
This trophic relationship was confirmed by laboratory
obsen'ations on the feeding activity of some predaceous
mites.
presence of the corn rootworms may have served as a
stabilizing factor in the predaccolls mite populations.
Manure was a!'(ain applied in 1969. Adult rootworm
population was lower in this area than in the 1967
findings.
The data of 1967 suggested that predation by mites
accounted for a ]9.7'70 control of corn rootwon11S undcr
natura] field conditions and a 63.0% control whcll manure
was applied in the field.

As part of the study on the effects of cultural vertical distribution of the mites, each core was
practices on populations of the northern and western separated into four 2-in. sections. Each section was
corn rootworms, Diabrotica longicornis (Say), and placed in a Berlese funnel; the mites were extracted,
D. virgifera LeConte, the effects of manure applica- preserved, identified to family and genus taxa, and
tion in the corn field were investigated in 1967, counted.
1968, and 1969. In 1968, the same plot was planted again to corn
PROCEDURE.-A plot which had been in corn for 4 without additional application of manure. Five 5-qt
years was divided into 6 strips, each 8 rows wide. soil samples were taken in each of the 6 strips, 3 of
Manure was applied to 3 alternate strips at the which were manured in 1967 and 3 nonmanured, on
equivalent of 50 tons/acre in the spring of 1967. July 9 and again on July 18. The larval populations
The other 3 strips were used as checks, Larval were checked. Later, adult emergence was checked,
populations were determined on July 24 by taking with a procedure different from that used in 1967.
ten 5-qt samples of soil from each strip. Adult One 20-mesh nylon-screen cage, 3X3 ft and 6 ft high,
populations were determined by setting up 12 metal was installed over I plant in each of the strips. The
traps in each strip. The trap consisted of a section beetles which emerged and were confined in the cage
of stovepipe, 12 in. diam and 12 in. high, placed were removed twice weekly and counted. No attempt
around the base of a corn plant. A cloth sleeve was was made to trap the ground beetles and spiders in
tied on the top of the trap and was gathered and 1968. However, 1 soil sam pIe was taken in each stri p
tied around the corn stalk. The corn rootworm and mites were extracted and counted in the same
adults upon emerging from the soil were enclosed manner as in 1967.
by the metal pipe and the cloth cover. They were In 1969, a portion of each of the previously non·
counted and removed twice weekly from Aug. I manured strips was applied with manure at the same
through Sept. 5. On the latter date emergence was rate as 1967. Five 3x3X6·ft cages were installed in
virtually completed. each of the 3 areas, 1967 manured, 1969 manured,
When the data showed a marked difference be- and check. The seasonal total of adults caught was
tween the populations in the manured strips and the recorded.
check strips, the possible effect of predation by To determine if the mites actually feed on eggs
ground beetles, spiders, and mites was considered. and larvae of the corn rootworms, mites and insects
Four pit-fall traps, as discussed by Southwood (1966), were placed in small plastic dishes with moist germi-
were set up in the manured strips and 4 in the check nation paper 011 the bottom and a vent on the
strips. The ground beetles and spiders caught were cover. They were observed periodically for predatory
sorted and preserved on Sept. 5, 7, 15, and 22, 1967. activity.
Their numbers and species were determined. In early RESULTS A:\D DrscussION.-J967 Results.-The corn
October, 4 samples of soil were collected from the rootwonn populations, both larval and adult, were
manured and 4 from the check strips to extract mites. twice as high in the check strips as in the currently
Each sample consisted of a core 4 in. diam and 8 manured strips (I'able I, A). This relationship sug-
in, deep. To detect any possible difference in the gests that some factors relative to manure are re-
sponsible for the reduced rootworm population.
1 Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae. The possible role of predation by other arthropods
"Paper no. 6958, Scientific Journal Series, Minnesota Agricul·
tural Experiment Station, S1. I'aul. Received for publication June was examined. Table 2 shows that the populations
g, 1969. of all ground beetles combined and all spiders com·
3 Professor, Department of Entomology, Fisheries, and Wildlife,
Universityof Minnesota, S1. Paul, Minn. 55101. bined were not affected by the manure applicatioll,
934
lUlle 1lJ70 CHIANG: CORN RoonVORM POPULATIONS 935

Table I.-Number of corn rootworm larvae and adults Table 2. - Number of ground beetles and spiders of
in s~lInples from strips with and without manure applica- various species caught in ground traps in strips with and
tion, Lamberton, Minn. 1967, 1968, and 1969. without manure application. Lamberton, Minn. 1967.

Manured Manured No. individuals

strips Check strips per trap
in 1967 strips in 1969
Manured Check
A 1967 Species strips strips
:\:o. corll rootworm
1ar\'al'/5'ql sample 2.8 5.3 Ground beetles
~ o. corll rootworm Bembidion quadrimaculatum (L.) 0.25 o
ad u]ts/ slovl'pi pc trap' 3.0 6.5 Calathus gregarius Dejean .50 o
B 1968 Evartlzrus allemans Casey 1.0 0.5
Hal'palus pennsylvanicus De Geer 4.0 2.0
No. coni root worm

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Pterostichus chalcites Say .75 0.5
1ar\'al'/5-qt sample 5.7 4.6
No. corn !"Ootworm P. lucublandlls Say .25 o
66.7 50.5 P. perTlltmdus Say 2.75 8.25
adults/3x3-ft cage"
Total 9.5 11.0
C 1969
COl"llroot worm
:\: O. Spiders
adu!ts/3X3-ft cage< 83.6 78.4 29.2 Leiobunum sp. 8.75 13.5
Leiobunwn sp. 6.25 2.0
• llnful'tunatdy. tlll~ 2 species of corn rootworm were not Leiobllnum sp . 1.50 1.0
Sl'pal'utl'ly founted. In an adjart'nt plot there were 36% northern Pardosa sp. nr. xerampelina .25
and tHf;;, w{'Sh'rn (."orn rout\\'orDlS.
IJ There Wt'l'C 34t;;1 northern and 66<;'0 western corn rootworms. Total 16.5 16.75
(' There Wl're 24 t;c northt'rn and 76r;0 western corn rootworms.

though some indi\'idual species were differentially predaceous mite populations were at a fairly con·
;1Ift-ned. Thus, these predators were not considered stant level in the 2 years. These facts suggest that
likely to be responsible for the reduction in the the presence of the corn rootworms may have served
rootworm populations. as a stabilizing factor in the predaceous mite popula.
The data on the number and distribution of mites tions.
in 1!l(j7 (Table;l) present interesting relationships. 1969 Results. - The adult rootworm populations
The populations of both Ilonpredaceous and pre· showed no difference between the 1967 manured
dan'ous mites were many times higher in the strips and the check strips (Table IC). This fact is
nlanulTd strips than in the check strips. Thus, the to be expected in view of results of 1968. The popu·
application of manure resulted in an increase in the
populations of both predaceous and non predaceous Table 3.-Number and distribution of mites in samples
mitl'S. This result is to be expected, since manure from manured and check strips, Lamberton, Minn. 1967
is a suitable habitat for many mites (Evans et al. and 1958.
I!Hil) , .
It is rommon knowledge that predaceous mites
]967 1968
ked on other mites as well as on small insects. To
dt't('nnine whether the predaceous mites found in Manured Check Manured Check
Ihis study were associated principally with the non·
predaceous mites or with corn rootworms, a com- No. per 8-in. core samjJle
parison of the \'ertical distribution of the mites (see
Nonpredaceous mites
l'abk ~l) and that of the corn rootworms (Chiang Oribatei 65.2 21.5 0.6 0.3
I !lli5. Chiang et al. I!lli9) was made. In the manured Acaridae 98.2 8.0 .2 0
strips, the nonpredaceous mites were concentrated in Prostigmata 0.3 0.3 0 0
the top 2 in. of soil. On the other hand, the pre· Total 163.7 29.8 .8 0.3
dan'ous mites and the corn rootworm eggs and larvae
Predaceous mites
are distributed randomly throughout the top 8 in. Lae]aptidae 31.5 3.8 2.3
9.3
of soil. Thus, the distribution of these species sug- Rhodacaridae 8.0 1.2 7.5 4.0
gl'StS that the predact~ous mites are associated spatially Amerosiidae 1.0 2.0 2.3 2.8
more with the corn rootworms than with the non· Total 40.5 12.5 13.6 9.1
predaceous mites.
}lI68 R.esults. - The rootworm populations, both No. per 2-in. section, all groups
lanae and adults, showed no difference in 1968 Nonpredaceous mites
0-2 in. 108.5 7.3 .2 0
(Table I B). This fact suggests that the effects of
2-4 31.2 3.5 .3 .2
manure which were apparent in 1967 had dissipated. 4-6 12.3 11.0 .2 .I
Concun-ent with this relationship, the population of 6-8 11.7 8.0 .1 0
predareous mites also showed a diminishing di~er- Total 163.7 29.8 .8 .3
ence. Thus, the effect of manure on predaceous mites
lasted for only I season. The results also support the Predaceous mites
0-2 in. 13.0 5.5 2.3 5.6
contended interrelationship between the predaceous 6.0 0 5.0 .2
2-4
mites and corn rootwornlS. 4-6 13.7 4.0 3.8 3.0
It is interesting to note that there was a drastic 6-8 7.8 3.0 2.5 .3
('hange in the number of non predaceous mites from Total 40.5 12.5 13.6 9.1
19G7 to 19G8 even in the check strips, while the
936 JOURNALOF ECONOMICENTO;\IOLOGY Vol. 63, no. 3

lation in the 1969 manured strip was lower than in the year in the soil as eggs, larvae, and pupae. Yet
the check. This fact confirms the results of 1967. no information is available on the effects ot natural
Laboratory Results. - Laboratory observations on biotic factors on the insects in their soil habitat. The
the feeding activity of the 2 predominant groups of present analysis, while it involves some oversimplifica-
predaceous mites, Laelaptidae (Androlaelaps sp. and tion, represents the I st opportunity and attempt to
Stratiolaelaps sp.) and Rhodacaridae (Rhodacarellus identify and quantify I aspect of these effects, namely,
sp.), showed that both species of laelaptids fed on the mite predation.
the eggs and larvae of corn rootworms, though the ACK1\"O\VLEDG:\IENTS.- The work is partially support-
rhodacarid did not. Thus, the laboratory observa- ed by USDA grant 12-14-100·8039 (33). The valuable
tions confirmed the possible trophic relationship sug- cooperation by Dr. \<\Tallace Nelson, Superintendent,
gested by the field data. Southwest Experiment Station, University of l\Iinne-
\'\'ork is in progress to determine quantitatively the sota, Lamberton, and his staff is acknowledged.
feeding capacity, longevity, and reproduction of the Thanks are due to ]\fr. Ray Gorder, who offered
mites when fed with corn rootworm eggs and lan'ae. technical field assistance, and to Dr. R. S. Raros and

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Quantitative Effectiveness of Mite Predation.-On J\Ir. John :\Iihm, who offered laboratory assistance.
the basis of the 1967 data, an increase of the pre- The assistance by various specialists in identifying
daceous mites from 12.5 to 40.5/mite sample brought the specimens is greatly appreciated: Dr. G. E. Ball
about a reduction of rootworm adults from 6.5 to of the University of A]berta (gTOund beetles) and
3.0/rootwonn adult sample. This result means that Dr. Preston Hunter of the Uni\'ersity of Georgia
28 mites/sample produced a reduction of 3.5 adults/ (predaceous mites), and Dr. Philip J. Clausen
sample, and that 1 mite may reduce the adult popu- (ground beetles) , Dr. Leonila Corpuz.R.aros (mites),
lation by 0.125 (3.5/28). Thus, the 12.5 mites in the and Dr. Bruce E. Cutler (spiders) of the lTniversity
check strips could have reduced the adult population of :\finnesota.
by about 1.5 adults (O.l25X 12.5). In other words, if
no predaceous mites were present, the adult popula- REFERENCES CITED
tion of corn rootworms in the check strips would Chiang, H. C. 1965. Research on corn rootworms. Minn.
have been 8.1 instead of 6.5/sample. It may thus Farm Home Sci. 23 (3): 10-13.
be concluded that under the conditions of the 1967
Chiang, H. C., V. Sisson, and D. Rasmussen. 1969. Con-
study, including the specific population levels of version of results of concentrated samples to density
mites and rootworms, (I) the predaceous mites popu· estimates of the egg and larval populations of the
lation was a natural control factor of the corn root- northern corn rootworm. J. Econ. Entomol. 62 (3) :
578-83.
1.6 )
worm to the amount of about
19.7% ( -- X 100 ,
8.1 Evans, G. 0., J. G. Sheals, and D. ;\facFarlane. 1961.
and (2) the application of manure intensified the The Terrestrial Acari of the British Isles. Vol. I.
Introduction and Biology. British Museum (~at.
8.1 - 3.0 ) Hist.) , London. 219 p.
effect of this factor to 63.0% ( ---- X 100 .
8.1 Southwood, T. R. E. 1966. Ecological Methods. Ma-
The corn rootworms spend at least 9 months of tllLlen, London. 391 p.

Influence of Systemic Insecticides on Thripsi Control and Yield of Cotton2

C. M. BECKHAM

University of Georgia, College of Agriculture Experiment Stations, Georgia Station, Experiment, Georgia 30ZJ2

ABSTRACT
Systemic insecticide granules were evaluated as in·fur-
row applications at planting for effect on thrips control,
plant stand, and yield of cotton in 1967 and 1968. Fungi.
cides were combined with several of the formulations.
The following treatments significantly reduced thrips,
Fmllhliniella spp., on seedling cotton: carbofuran, disul-
foton, Hercules 13462 (O,O.dimethyl phosphorodithioate
S-ester with N- (I-mercaptoethyl) succinimide), Hercules
17413 (O,O-dimethyl phosphorodithioate S·ester with 3·
(mercaptornethyl).I-rnethylhydantoin), Lannate® (S.methyl
N· [(methylcarbamo}'l) ox)'] thioacetimidate), Lannate +
chloroneb, phorate, phorate + peNB (pentachloronitro-
benzene) + Terrazole® (5-ethox y·3-trichlorometh yl-I ,2,4-
thiadiazole), phorate + peNB, and aldicarb. Results to
determine the effect on stand were variable. In the 1967
test, Hercules 13462 at the ra te of 1 ]h per acre and pho·
rate + Zinophos® (O,O·diethyl 0-2'pyra~jnyl phosphoro.
thioate) reduced the plant stand significantly as ('Om·
pared with the check. None of the treatments had a
significantly beneficial effect on stand. Significantly higher
plant counts resulted in the phorate + PCl\:B and aldi·
carb treatments than in the check during] 96B. Although
thrips control was obtained with most of the materials
tested, use of the systemic imecticides did not result in
increased yields eithcr ycar.

Thrips are the principal insects infesting seedling kled, and distorted leaves. l\fost damage is caused
cotton in Georgia. Feeding by both adults and im- during the 1st 4-6 weeks of plant growth. The most
mature forms causes damage to seedling plants by prevalent species found on seedling cotton in Georgia
destroying leaf tissue, which results in ragged, crin- have been listed (Beckham and ]\forgan 1955, Beck-
ham 1967).
1Thysanoptera: Thripidae. The effectiveness of systemic insecticides for con·
2 Journat Series Paper no. 596, University of Georgia College of tro] of thrips, Franhliniella spp., on cotton has been
Agriculture Experiment Stations, Georgia Station, Experiment. Re-
ceived for publication Aug. 21, 1969. reported by many workers. Variable effects of the