Impact of cogongrass management strategies on generalist predators in cogongrass-infested longleaf pine plantations

BACKGROUND Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica Beav.) is an aggressive, invasive weed with a global distribution. In North America, it threatens the integrity of southeastern pine agroecosystems, including longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.). While studies have examined the impacts of cogongrass and v...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pest management science 2015-03, Vol.71 (3), p.478-484
Main Authors: Sells, Sallie M, Held, David W, Enloe, Stephen F, Loewenstein, Nancy J, Eckhardt, Lori G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alabama
Animals
Araneae
Arthropoda
Arthropods
Arthropods - drug effects
Arthropods - physiology
biodiversity
Conservation of Natural Resources
Ecosystem
Fires
Formicidae
glyphosate
Grasses
Herbicides
Herbicides - toxicity
Impact analysis
Imperata cylindrica
Insects
natural enemies
Nonnative species
Pinus - parasitology
Pinus palustris
Plantations
Poaceae
Predatory Behavior
prescribed burn
Scolytidae
Trees
Weed Control - methods
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Summary:BACKGROUND Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica Beav.) is an aggressive, invasive weed with a global distribution. In North America, it threatens the integrity of southeastern pine agroecosystems, including longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.). While studies have examined the impacts of cogongrass and various vegetation management strategies on longleaf pine understory plant communities, little is known about how they impact associated insect communities. To understand the effect of cogongrass management strategies on arthropod natural enemies and bark beetles, a split‐plot design was used to test fire (whole‐plot) and four subplot treatments (control, herbicide, seeding and herbicide plus seeding). Arthropods were sampled using pitfall traps and sweep samples. RESULTS After 2 years of sampling, total natural enemies were not significantly affected by subplot treatment but were affected by burn treatment. Upon subdividing natural enemies into groups, only spiders were significantly affected by subplot treatment, but predatory beetles and ants were significantly affected by burn treatment. The abundance of root‐feeding bark beetles (Hylastes spp.) was not significant by subplot or whole‐plot treatments. CONCLUSIONS Multiple applications of herbicide remain the most effective way to manage cogongrass in longleaf pine. In this study, we found limited evidence that cogongrass management with herbicides would negatively impact arthropod natural enemies associated with longleaf pine or locally increase root‐feeding bark beetles. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry
ISSN:1526-498X
1526-4998
DOI:10.1002/ps.3951