Flight activity of Diabrotica spp. at the borders of cornfields and its relation to ovarian stage in D. barberi
1989
Flight activity of corn rootworm beetles, the northern (NCR), Diabrotica barberi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), and western (WCR), D. virgifera virgifera, was monitored using malaise traps placed at the edges of two small cornfields. Populations of beetles in the fields peaked while corn was flowering, but capture in malaise traps remained low until silks had dried. Capture of NCR and (to a lesser extent) WCR then increased and remained high through the season. Malaise traps were constructed to permit separate collections of beetles that entered on each of two opposite sides. Female NCR that were captured in sides that faced toward corn tended to contain fewer mature eggs than those in sides facing away from corn. These findings support the hypothesis that female NCR emigrate from cornfields to feed when fresh silk and corn pollen (favored foods) become unavailable, but that egg-laden NCR actively seek corn when searching for oviposition sites.
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