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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #79893
Title: EFFECTS ON GROUND BEETLE (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE) ASSEMBLAGES OF CONVERSION FROM CRP LANDS TO WHEAT PRODUCTION

Author
item French, Bryan
item Elliott, Norman - Norm

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/21/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) soon will revert to agricultural production. In Oklahoma, much of the land will revert to wheat production. Wheat is afflicted with many pests. Ground beetles are polyphagous predators that prey on a variety of agricultural pests and may help prevent pest outbreaks. Ground beetles were captured from March 1995 through June 1995 in the Oklahoma Panhandle. Ground beetles were captured in pitfall traps placed in four replicates of no-till wheat, minimum-tilled wheat, managed CRP, and unmanaged CRP plots. Nearly 2000 ground beetles were captured, representing 60 species. Five species, Amara cupreolata, Anisodactylus dulcicollis, Amara rusticus, Galerita janus, and Pasimachus elongatus, accounted for 63% of all individuals captured. Significant differences were found in assemblages of ground beetles among the treatments, and for single species. Of the five dominant species, A. cupreolata, A. dulcicollis, and P. elongatus were captured predominantly i managed CRP plots. Amara rusticus was found equally among all treatments. Galerita janus was captured primarily in no-till wheat plots.