Field sampling methods for Asiatic garden beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) adult movement and flight in the Great Lakes region

Authors

  • Adrian J. Pekarcik Department of Entomology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, 1680 Madison Avenue, Wooster, Ohio 44691, USA
  • Amy L. Raudenbush Department of Entomology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, 1680 Madison Avenue, Wooster, Ohio 44691, USA
  • Kyle J. Akred Department of Entomology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, 1680 Madison Avenue, Wooster, Ohio 44691, USA
  • Eric Richer Department of Extension, The Ohio State University, 8770 SR-108, Wauseon, OH 43567, USA
  • Kelley J. Tilmon Department of Entomology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, 1680 Madison Avenue, Wooster, Ohio 44691, USA

Abstract

The Asiatic garden beetle, Maladera formosae (Brenske) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), was introduced into the US in 1921 and recently has become a significant early-season pest of field corn in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan, USA. Adults emerge from the soil in mid-summer, feed, mate, and lay eggs in the crop soil. Although adult feeding causes no apparent damage in field crops, these beetles are responsible for laying eggs that hatch into the grubs that overwinter and feed on corn the following spring. The objective of this study was to evaluate sampling methods used for other annual white grub species for their efficacy with M. formosae adults in a corn-soybean production system. We performed 2 experiments to first evaluate pitfall traps and sticky cards for sampling beetle emergence, then evaluate antifreeze milkjug traps and blacklight traps for sampling beetle flight. Pitfall traps were effective at capturing beetles, but not sticky cards. Peak abundance was observed between 28 Jun and 5 Jul. Flying adults were predominately attracted to the blacklight trap and nearly 100 times more adults were trapped in the blacklight compared to the milkjug traps. Flying beetles were more attracted to milkjug traps containing propylene glycol antifreeze than water or ethylene glycol antifreeze. These findings may provide economical tools for monitoring adult flight movement and flight.

 

Resumen

El escarabajo asiático de jardín, Maladera formosae (Brenske) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), se introdujo en los EE. UU. en 1921 y recientemente se ha convertido en una plaga importante de la época temprana del maíz en Ohio, Indiana, y Michigan, EE. UU. Los adultos emergen del suelo en el medio del verano, se alimentan, se aparean y ponen huevos en el suelo de cultivo. Aunque la alimentación de los adultos no causa daños aparentes en los cultivos de campo, estos escarabajos son responsables de poner huevos que se convierten en larvas que pasan el invierno y se alimentan del maíz en la primavera siguiente. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la eficacia de los métodos de muestreo utilizados para otras especies anuales de gallina ciega sobre los adultos de M. formosae en un sistema de producción de maíz y soja. Realizamos dos experimentos para evaluar primero las trampas de caída y las tarjetas adhesivas para muestrear la emergencia de escarabajos, luego evaluar las trampas de leche anticongelante y las trampas de luz negra para muestrear el vuelo de los escarabajos. Las trampas de caída fueron efectivas para capturar escarabajos, pero no las tarjetas adhesivas. Se observó la abundancia máxima entre el 28 de junio y el 5 de julio. Los adultos voladores se sintieron atraídos predominantemente por la trampa de luz negra y casi 100 veces más adultos quedaron atrapados en la luz negra en comparación con las trampas de jarras de leche. Los escarabajos voladores fueron más atraídos por las trampas de jarras de leche que contenían anticongelante de propilenglicol que el agua o el anticongelante de etilenglicol. Estos hallazgos pueden proporcionar herramientas económicas para monitorear el vuelo y el movimiento de los adultos.

Key Words: Maladera formosae; scarab; pitfall trap; antifreeze milkjug trap; field crops

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Author Biographies

Adrian J. Pekarcik, Department of Entomology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, 1680 Madison Avenue, Wooster, Ohio 44691, USA

Department of Entomology, Ph.D. student

Amy L. Raudenbush, Department of Entomology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, 1680 Madison Avenue, Wooster, Ohio 44691, USA

Department of Entomology, Research Associate 2

Eric Richer, Department of Extension, The Ohio State University, 8770 SR-108, Wauseon, OH 43567, USA

Department of Extension, Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources

Kelley J. Tilmon, Department of Entomology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, 1680 Madison Avenue, Wooster, Ohio 44691, USA

Department of Entomology, Professor

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Published

2023-07-17

Issue

Vol. 106, No. 2 (June 2023)

Section

Research Papers

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