Seasonal and vertical distribution of Dalbulus maidis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in Brazilian corn fields
Keywords:
Zea mays, maize, corn leafhopper, mollicutes, vectorAbstract
The corn leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis (DeLong & Wolcott) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), is one of the most important pests of corn, Zea mays L. (Poaceae), in Latin America. We assessed the seasonal and vertical distribution of D. maidis in corn fields in Brazil, in addition to describing the effect of 2 types of yellow traps positioned at 2 heights on the capture of this leafhopper. Sampling was conducted using yellow pan traps and yellow sticky cards throughout the cropping period, in both the rainy and dry seasons. The population of D. maidis in the dry season was much larger than in the rainy season. During both the rainy season and dry seasons, the greatest abundance of D. maidis was observed at 77 d post emergence of the corn, which corresponded to physiological maturity. Greater numbers of insects were captured with yellow cards than with pan traps, at both heights and in both cropping seasons. Also, more insects were captured at the 1.5 m than at the 0.5 m sampling height. The corn leafhopper was able to maintain significant populations throughout the phenological cycle of corn, but was especially numerous in the dry season. Knowledge of the seasonality of D. maidis aids in understanding how population dynamics may change with cropping seasons.
Resumen
La chicharrita del maíz, Dalbulus maidis (DeLong y Wolcott) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), es una de las plagas más importantes del maíz, Zea mays L. (Poaceae), en América Latina. Se evaluó la distribución estacional y vertical de D. maidis en campos de maíz en Brasil, además de describir el efecto de las 2 clases de trampas amarillas colocadas en 2 alturas sobre la captura de este saltahoja. Se realizó el muestreo utilizando trampas de paila amarillas y tarjetas amarillas pegajosas durante todo el período de cultivo, tanto en la estación lluviosa y seca. La población de D. maidis en la estación seca fue mucho más grande que en la época de lluvias. Tanto durante la época de lluvias y la estación seca, se observó la mayor abundancia de D. maidis a los 77 días pos-emergencia del maíz, lo que correspondía a la madurez fisiológica. Un mayor número de insectos fueron capturados con las tarjetas amarillas que con las trampas de paila, tanto por alturas y en ambos ciclos de cultivo. También, más insectos fueron capturados en el 1,5 m de altura que en el muestreo de 0,5 m. La chicharrita del maíz fue capaz de mantener poblaciones importantes en todo el ciclo fenológico del maíz, pero fueron especialmente numerosos en la época seca. El conocimiento de la estacionalidad de D. maidis ayuda en la comprensión de cómo la dinámica de población pueden cambiar con estaciones de cultivo.
View this article in BioOne
Downloads
Additional Files
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright for any article published in Florida Entomologist is held by the author(s) of the article. Florida Entomologist is an open access journal. Florida Entomologist follows terms of the Creative Commons, Attribution Non-Commercial License (cc by-nc). By submitting and publishing articles in Florida Entomologist, authors grant the FOJ and Florida Entomologist's host institutions permission to make the article available through Internet posting and electronic dissemination, and to otherwise archive the information contained both electronically and in a hard printed version. When used, information and images obtained from articles must be referenced and cited appropriately. Articles may be reproduced for personal, educational, or archival purposes, or any non-commercial use. Permission should be sought from the author(s) for multiple, non-commercial reproduction. Written permission from the author(s) is required for any commercial reproduction.