Longevity, fecundity, and leaf stippling of Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae) as affected by lettuce cultivar and supplemental feeding

• Published in: Journal of economic entomology 1998-08, Vol.91 (4), p.999-1004
• Main Authors: NAGATA, R. T, WILKINSON, L. M, NUESSLY, G. S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agromyzidae; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Lactuca sativa; Liriomyza trifolii; Pest animals; Pest resistance; Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims
• ISSN: 0022-0493; 1938-291X
• DOI: 10.1093/jee/91.4.999

Resistance in lettuce, Lactuca sativa L., to the leafminer Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) was evaluated in the laboratory. Four lettuce cultivars, 'Tall Guzmaine', 'Valmaine', 'Floricos 83' and 'Parris Island Cos', were used in an initial study and Valmaine and Tall Guzmaine were used in 2 additional studies. Significant differences in fecundity, as measured by the number of pupae produced, and in the total number of stipples were found, but these differences resulted from differences in adult survival. Female leafminers on Tall Guzmaine survived significantly longer and produced more pupae than adults on Valmaine, Parris Island Cos, and Floricos 83. When honey was provided as a dietary supplement along with Valmaine, no significant difference in adult survival was observed when compared with Tall Guzmaine without honey. Alternating Valmaine with Tall Guzmaine as the host plant in 1- or 2-d cycles resulted in significant reductions in the number of days survived, total number of pupae and total number of stipples compared with adults exposed only to Tall Guzmaine. A potential deficiency of a nutritional factor may be involved in conferring host plant resistance in Valmaine lettuce to L. trifolii.