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Population ecology of Heteronyx piceus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in a peanut/maize cropping system

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Ward, A.L. and Rogers, D.J. (2006) Population ecology of Heteronyx piceus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in a peanut/maize cropping system. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 96 (2). pp. 129-136.

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Article Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/BER2005407

Publisher URL: http://journals.cambridge.org

Abstract

Large larval populations of the scarabaeid beetle Heteronyx piceus Blanchard that occur under peanuts, but not maize, in the South Burnett region of Australia are the result of a high rate and prolonged period of egg production by females feeding on peanut foliage. Heteronyx piceus is a relatively sedentary species and movement of females between adjacent fields is low. Populations of H. piceus varied markedly with landscape position. High larval populations are more likely (1 in 4 chance) to be encountered on the ‘scrub’ soils in the upper parts of the landscape than in the ‘forest’ soils in the lower half (1 in 20 chance), indicating that soil type/landscape position is a key risk factor in assessing the need for management intervention. The studies indicate that, because of the species' sedentary nature, the most meaningful population entity for management of H. piceus is the individual field, rather than the whole-farm or the region. The implications of this population ecology for management of the pest are discussed in relation to control strategies.

Item Type:Article
Corporate Creators:Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI), Agri-Science, Crop and Food Science
Business groups:Crop and Food Science
Additional Information:Author version © Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. © Cambridge University Press. Access to published version may be available via Publisher’s website.
Keywords:Heteronyx piceus; peanut; soil type; landscape position; Australia; pest management.
Subjects:Plant culture > Fruit and fruit culture > Nuts
Science > Zoology > Invertebrates > Insects
Plant pests and diseases > Individual or types of plants or trees
Plant culture > Field crops > Grain. Cereals
Science > Biology > Ecology
Live Archive:22 Oct 2007
Last Modified:03 Sep 2021 16:43

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