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FACTORS AFFECTING MORTALITY OF THE EUROPEAN CORN BORER, OSTRINIA NUBILALIS (HÜBNER), IN ALBERTA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Dennis A. Lee
Dennis A. Lee
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E3
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Abstract

A combination of laboratory and field trials, from 1983 to 1985, were used to determine mortality factors affecting all life stages of Alberta populations of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), feeding on corn. The resulting life table demonstrated that greatest mortality occurred during the first and second larval instars (62.2%), when mature larvae are in diapause (69.5%), and from moth migration and loss in reproductive potential (70.3%). Stages where mortality was slight included the egg stage (11.7%), non-diapausing third- to fifth-instar larvae (2%), and pupae (10.4%).

Laboratory trials showed that greater egg mortality occurred at relative humidities (RH) of 35 and 55% than at a RH of 75%. In the field, egg parasitism was nil, predation of early-instar larvae (5.2%) and diapausing larvae (6%) was low, and parasitoids were scarce (emerging from ca. 2% of pupae). Sustained periods of hot, dry weather with high moisture stress were related to mortality of both eggs and early-instar larvae. Death of early-instar larvae also was related to periods of rainy weather with low evaporation. The 64% non-diapause larval mortality was much lower than that reported elsewhere. The dramatic increase in the corn borer since its recent introduction to Alberta may be due to a lack of natural enemies, and because only non-resistant corn hybrids are grown.

Résumé

On a utilisé des tests de laboratoire et de terrain entre 1983 et 1985 pour déterminer les facteurs de mortalité affectant tous les stades de populations albertaines de la pyrale du maïs, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner), sur le maïs. La table de survie obtenue a montré que la majeure partie de la mortalité survenait durant les premier et deuxième stades larvaires (62,2%), durant la diapause des larves matures (69,5%), et par perte de potentiel reproducteur et migration des adultes (70,3%). Les stades avec faible mortalité étaient le stade oeuf (11,7%), les larves non-diapausantes des stades trois à cinq (2%), et les pupes (10,4%).

Les testes de laboratoire ont montré qu’une plus forte mortalité des oeufs survenait aux indices d’humidité relative (RH) de 35 et 55% qu’à 75% RH. Sur le terrain, le parasitisme des oeufs était nul, la prédation des jeunes larves était faible, et le parasitisme rare (environ 2% des pupes). On a pu relier la mortalité des oeufs et des jeunes larves aux périodes de temps chaud et sec avec un stress hydrique important. La mortalité des jeunes larves a aussi été reliée au temps pluvieux avec une évaporation faible. La mortalité de 64% des larves non-diapausantes est beaucoup plus faible que rapporté ailleurs. L’augmentation dramatique de la pyrale depuis son entrée récente en Alberta est possiblement due à l’absence d’ennemis naturels, et à l’utilisation d’hybrides de maïs non-résistants.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 120 , Issue 10 , October 1988 , pp. 841 - 853
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1988

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