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ACTIVITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF CARABIDAE, ARACHNIDA, AND STAPHYLINIDAE IN NEW BRUNSWICK POTATO FIELDS

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Gilles Boiteau
Affiliation:
Research Station, Agriculture Canada, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 4Z7

Abstract

A 3-year faunal survey of insecticide-free potato fields revealed that Carabidae were the most abundant ground arthropods followed by Arachnida and Staphylinidae. Generic and species composition of Carabidae did not vary substantially from year to year but abundance did. The arthropods were distributed along a gradient decreasing with distance from the edge of the field closest to the woodland. Results of yellow pan trappings indicated that all types of Carabidae present in the pitfalls could fly but that flight activity was variable among genera. More than 50% of Staphylinidae and 85% of the Carabidae were trapped in the yellow pans at the time of field colonization in June. The significance of these findings in relation to the potential of the arthropods for natural biological control of potato pests is discussed.

Résumé

Un inventaire faunique de trois ans effectué dans des champs de pomme de terre où l'on n'utilisait pas d'insecticides a révélé que les Carabidae étaient les arthropodes du sol les plus abondants suivis par les Arachnida et les Staphylinidae. Contrairement à leur abondance, la composition générique et spécifique des Carabidae n'a pas varié substantiellement d'une année à l'autre. Les arthropodes étaient distribués le long d'un gradient décroissant depuis la bordure du champ située à proximité de la forêt jusqu'à la bordure opposée. Les résultats du trappage au piège Moericke ont indiqué que tous les types de Carabidae présents dans les pièges de Barber pouvaient voler mais que l'activité de vol était variable parmi les différents genres. Plus de 50% des Staphylinidae et 85% des Carabidae ont été capturés au piège de Moericke durant le mois de juin, c'est-à-dire au moment de la colonisation des champs. L'importance de ces résultats en rapport avec le potentiel de ces arthropodes pour la lutte biologique naturelle contre les insectes nuisibles de la pomme de terre est discutée.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1983

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