Ground Beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Populations in Commercial Organic and Conventional Potato Production

Authors

  • Silvia I. Rondon Oregon State University, Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center, 2121 S. First Street, Hermiston, OR 97838
  • Alberto Pantoja USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Subarctic Agricultural Research Unit, Fairbanks, AK 99709, USA Current address: United Nations, Food and Agriculture Organization, Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean,Vitacura, Santiago, Chile. Avenida Dag Hammarskjöld 3241, Vitacura Santiago, Chile
  • Aaron Hagerty USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Subarctic Agricultural Research Unit, Fairbanks, Alaska Current address: Monsanto Arizona Cotton Research Center, 749 West Ash Ave, Casa Grande, AZ 85193
  • Donald A. Horneck Oregon State University, Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center, 2121 S. First Street, Hermiston, OR 97838

Keywords:

biological control, conventional agriculture, generalist, ground beetles, organic agriculture, sustainable systems

Abstract

In 2 consecutive years, ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) were sampled in commercial organic and conventional potato fields, using pit fall traps. Four conventional and 3 organic potato fields were surveyed to determine ground beetle taxa composition. In a related study, potato fields were assigned to 1 of 4 transitional systems to include: organic, no spray (usually referred to as no control and/or only OMRI certified control), IPM-conventional (directed control, after sampling) and conventional (broad spectrum pesticides) systems. Seven taxa of ground beetles were identified: Anisodactylus kerbyi Lindroth 1953, Amara sp., Bembidion sp., Calosoma cancellatum Eschscholtz 1833, Calathus ruficollis Casey 1920, Calathus ingrates Dejean 1828, and Pterostichus adstrictus Eschscholtz 1823. With the exception of C. cancellatum, which was not identified from organic fields in the first yr of this study, all taxa were collected in both organic and conventional potato fields both yr. Based on total number of specimens collected, Bembidion sp., P. adstrictus and Amara sp. represented 42.8% of the total specimens collected. The smallest number of ground beetles was collected from no spray and IPM-conventional systems. This study provides basic valuable information regarding beetles populations for growers making transition from conventional to organic potato production.

 

En dos años consecutivos, la composición de taxa de carabidos (Coleoptera: Carabidae) fue estudiada en campos comerciales de papa orgánica y convencional. Cuatro campos comerciales convencionales de papa y tres campos comerciales orgánicos, fueron monitoreados usando trampas de caída. Trampas fueron usadas desde la siembra (mediados de abril) hasta antes de la quema del follaje (mediados de agosto). También, para determinar como los sistemas transicionales afectan las poblaciones de carabidos, cuatro sistemas fueron evaluados: orgánico, sistema orgánico de transición (donde solo se permiten aplicaciones de pesticidas aprobados por el OMRI), IPM-convencional (solo se permiten aplicaciones de pesticidas después del monitoreo), y convencional (se permite el uso de pesticidas de amplio espectro). Siete especie de carabidos fueron identificados: Anisodactylus kerbyi Lindroth 1953, Amara sp., Bembidion sp., Calosoma cancellatum Eschscholtz 1833, Calathus ruficollis Casey 1920, Calathus ingratus Dejean 1828, y Pterostrichus adstrictus Eschscholtz 1823. Todas éstas taxas fueron encontradas en campos orgánicos y convencionales, con la excepción de C. cancellatum que no fue encontrada en campos orgánicos en el primer año de este estudio. Bembidion sp., P. adstrictus y Amara sp. fueron las taxas más abudantes (42.8% del número total de taxa colectadas). Sistemas orgánico de transición y IPM-convencionales presentaron el número más bajo de carabidos colectados. Este trabajo provee información básica importante para agricultores que intentan convertir su producción convencional a orgánica o visceversa.

 

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Published

2014-02-23

Issue

Vol. 96, No. 4 (December 2013)

Section

Research Papers

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