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Title: Minute Pirate Bug (Orius Insidiosus Say) populations on transgenic and non-transgenic maize using different sampling techniques

Author
item PALIZADA, SANTIAGO - Department Of Agriculture-Bureau Of Plant Industry
item TIROESELE, BAMPHITLHI - Botswana College Of Agriculture
item KONDIDIE, DIFABACHEW - Dow Agro Sciences
item ULLAH, MUHAMMAD - University Of Sargodha
item MUSTAFA, FATIMA - University Of Agriculture - Pakistan
item HUNT, THOMAS - University Of Nebraska
item CLARK, PETE - Jr Simplot Company
item MOLINA-OCHOA, JAIME - Universidad De Colima
item Skoda, Steven
item FOSTER, JOHN - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: PAKISTAN ENTOMOLOGIST
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/23/2014
Publication Date: 7/23/2014
Citation: Palizada, S.A., Tiroesele, B., Kondidie, D.B., Ullah, M.I., Mustafa, F., Hunt, T.E., Clark, P.L., Molina-Ochoa, J., Skoda, S.R. 2014. Minute pirate bug (Orius Insidiosus Say) populations on transgenic and non-transgenic maize using different sampling techniques. Pakistan Entomologist. 36(1):1-6.

Interpretive Summary: Minute pirate bugs are generalist predators which are important natural enemies of pest insects and mites in many cropping systems such as corn, soybeans, vegetables, and fruit crops. They are frequently reported in ecological field studies as an important non-target organism that is negatively affected by pest control practices. Field experiments were conducted over two consecutive years to evaluate the populations of minute pirate bug using visual, sticky cards, and destructive sampling techniques in transgenic and non-transgenic corn in three locations in Nebraska. All sampling methods revealed significantly lower counts of minute pirate bugs on CP4 EPSPS (transgenic corn), plus an insecticide application for control of first generation European corn borer, as compared to conventional corn or transgenic corn without insecticide treatment. These findings support previous ecological field studies on non-target predators showing that transgenic corn does not have a significant, negative effect on minute pirate bugs, important natural predators, regardless of the sampling method.

Technical Abstract: Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the populations of minute pirate bug [Orius insidiosus (Say)] using visual, sticky cards, and destructive sampling techniques in transgenic and non-transgenic maize in three locations in Nebraska (Mead, Clay Center, and Concord), United States of America, during 2007 and 2008. All sampling methods revealed significant counts of O. insidiosus on CP4 EPSPS maize, plus an insecticide application for control of first generation O. nubilalis at R2 (blister) sampling period. Similarly, visual observations of O. insidiosus on Cry1Ab x Cry3Bb1 x CP4 EPSPS maize yielded significantly higher mean adult counts at R2 (blister) sampling period for both years, while sticky cards and destructive sampling methods gave significant counts during 2007 and 2008, respectively. During both sampling periods (R1 and R2), mean adult counts of O. insidiosis differ significantly among the three sites at Mead, Clay Center, and Concord, Nebraska. Results from this research show that Cry1Ab maize, Cry1Ab x CP4 EPSPS maize, Cry1Ab x Cry3Bb1 x CP4 EPSPS maize, and CP4 EPSPS maize had no significant effects on O. insidious population abundance compared to CP4 EPSPS maize treated with insecticides.