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Aggregative oviposition behaviour of Helicoverpa spp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in contaminated chickpea crops

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Sequeira, R.V. and Moore, A.D. (2003) Aggregative oviposition behaviour of Helicoverpa spp. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in contaminated chickpea crops. Australian Journal of Entomology, 42 (1). pp. 29-34.

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Article Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-6055.2003.00327.x

Publisher URL: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/home

Abstract

Aggregative egg distribution by Helicoverpa spp. within experimental field plots of chickpea containing various contaminant plant species was documented at different stages of plant growth. More eggs were laid on contaminant faba and wheat plants than on the surrounding chickpea. The level of egg aggregation on faba and wheat plants increased with general crop growth, becoming evident before a significant disparity in growth rates between these species and the surrounding chickpea became apparent. In chickpea plots contaminated with canola, aggregative oviposition activity on the contaminant plants was observed in the early seedling stage whilst a clear height differential between the two species was evident. Total Helicoverpa egg density on contaminant plants was not correlated with height above chickpea for any of the contaminant species. It is proposed that the aggregative oviposition behaviour of Helicoverpa spp. in contaminated chickpea results from differential apparency of the contaminant plants to ovipositing moths. Differential apparency may result from several factors including growth rate and morphological differences between chickpea and the contaminants. Physiological changes in chickpea, including growth stage-related changes in acid production by the foliage, may also contribute to the greater apparency of contaminant plants in chickpea plots. The implications of differential host plant apparency for insect pest management are discussed.

Item Type:Article
Corporate Creators:Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI), Agri-Science, Crop and Food Science, Plant Science
Business groups:Crop and Food Science
Additional Information:© Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Keywords:Aggregative oviposition; Helicoverpa; host-plant apparency; pest management.
Subjects:Plant pests and diseases > Pest control and treatment of diseases. Plant protection
Science > Zoology > Invertebrates > Insects
Plant pests and diseases > Individual or types of plants or trees
Plant culture > Vegetables
Live Archive:19 Mar 2004
Last Modified:03 Sep 2021 16:43

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