Stage-dependent feeding behavior by western tarnished plant bugs influences flower bug abscission in cotton

Unexplained variability in the relationship between the number of herbivores in a field and the amount of crop damage can arise if there is a large amount of variation among herbivore individuals in the amount of feeding damage each generates. In California, populations of the western tarnished plan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Entomologia experimentalis et applicata 2005, Vol.117 (3), p.235-242
Main Authors: Zink, A.G, Rosenheim, J.A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adult insects
buds
cotton squares
crop damage
developmental stages
feeding behavior
feeding damage
flowers
Gossypium hirsutum
instars
Lygus hesperus
nymphs
population density
square abscission
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Summary:Unexplained variability in the relationship between the number of herbivores in a field and the amount of crop damage can arise if there is a large amount of variation among herbivore individuals in the amount of feeding damage each generates. In California, populations of the western tarnished plant bug, Lygus hesperus Knight (Heteroptera: Miridae), produce highly variable levels of damage to cotton plants (Gossypium hirsutum L.) (Malvaceae), even when found at low densities. Because L. hesperus populations are also highly variable in their overall stage structure, we hypothesize that differences in crop damage might result from varying impact by each L. hesperus stage on cotton flower buds (termed squares). Laboratory measurements of L. hesperus mouth-parts and distance to anther sacs, a preferred feeding site, revealed that 1st-3rd instar L. hesperus nymphs will not be able to feed on anther sacs of larger squares (over 8 mm in length) but will be able to feed on squares that are most sensitive to L. hesperus damage (
ISSN:0013-8703
1570-7458