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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #174534
Title: BEHAVIORAL RESPONSE OF OTIORHYNCHUS SULCATUS (F.) LARVAE TO METARHIZIUM ANISOPLIAE AND TALSTAR IN SOIL.

Author
item KEPLER, RYAN - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
item BRUCK, DENNY

Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/18/2004
Publication Date: 11/15/2004
Citation: Kepler, R., Bruck, D.J. 2004. Behavioral response of Otiorhynchus sulcatus (F.) larvae to Metarhizium anisopliae and talstar in soil. Entomological Society of America Proceedings.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The larval stage of the Black Vine Weevil (BVW), Otiorhynchus sulcatus, is an important pest of nursery crops, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. Plant damage consists of reduction in root mass, leading to poor growth and plant mortality under heavy infestations. Since the banning of certain insecticides due to environmental and public health concerns, there have been efforts to develop management tools that provide the same or superior control formerly offered by these products. The synthetic pyrethroid Talstar (Bifenthrin) and the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae are both registered for BVW control. It is currently unknown what effects, if any, these compounds have on the behavior of BVW larvae in soilless potting media. Behavioral responses to the presence of either product could seriously impact their effectiveness, either positively or negatively. In order to test this, still air olfactometers were constructed and behavioral assays performed. Larvae were placed in an olfactometer for 24 hours and allowed to choose between media treated with either Talstar or M. anisopliae at their recommended rates. The results of these experiments found no effect of either agent when trials were run with soilless potting media alone. However, when plants were grown in the media, BVW larvae were attracted to media containing M. anisopliae (P < 0.0001) and deterred from media containing Talstar (P < 0.0001). When containing a growing plant, media treated with M. anisopliae creates an environment that BVW larvae perceive as favorable, while media containing Talstar creates an unfavorable environment. The mechanism of this behavioral response is unknown.