State Reports for 2003
| Nebraska - project reports |
| 1) Project title:
Influence of buffalograss management practices on the chinch bug,
Blissus occiduus Barber, and its natural enemies.
Investigators: Jeffrey D. Carstens, F. P. Baxendale, and T. P. Riordan Contact: Fred Baxendale (fbaxendale1@unl.edu) Project description: Recently growing emphasis in quality of turfgrass has increased the level of turfgrass management. The chinch bug, Blissus occiduus Barber, has become recognized as a serious pest of buffalograss. Current turfgrass research focuses on developing specific management practices to reduce pest problems. My research assessed the influence of buffalograss management practices on B. occiduus and its natural enemies and documented predation of B. occiduus, by the big-eyed bug, Geocoris uliginosus (Say), an important beneficial arthropod. This study indicated that total numbers of chinch bugs and benefical arthropods were only minimally influenced by buffalograss management practices. However, chinch bug numbers were more abundant at greater mowing heights (5 and 7.5 cm) compared to the lowest (2.5 cm) height. In contrast, big-eyed bugs were more abundant at the lowest mowing height than at higher mowing heights. Increased fertility generally resulted in higher chinch bug numbers, while not influencing big-eyed bug abundance. Predation of B. occiduus by big-eyed bugs was investigated under laboratory conditions. This research revealed them to be an important, potential natural enemy of B. occiduus. This study also examined the efficiency of big-eyed bug predation on different chinch bug life stages. Significant differences in the number of dead chinch bugs were detected in arenas containing big-eyed bugs compared to controls across all life stages, except for 5th instars and adults. Low 5th instar and adult chinch bug mortality was likely a result of their larger biomass, as well as their superior size and strength compared to younger (1st through 4th instar) chinch bugs. This research documents that altering buffalograss clipping heights
and nitrogen levels does not strongly influence the abundance of
B. occiduus or its natural enemies. In addition, this research
affirms big-eyed bugs as important biological control agents of
chinch bugs in buffalograss. These results contribute important
baseline information needed to develop an integrated pest management
program for B. occiduus infesting buffalograss. 2) Project title: Investigators: Contact: Project description: Back to top of web page |
| Nebraska - publications |
|
T. E. Hunt and S. Z. Knezevic. 2002. Biological control of purple loosestrife: Monitoring Galerucella establishment and impact. Univ. Nebraska Coop. Ext. EC02-175. 11 pp. Knezevic, S. and D. Smith. 2001. Rearing and releasing Galerucella beetles to control purple loosestrife. Univ. of Nebraska Coop. Ext. G01-1436. http://www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/weeds/g1436.htm Back to top of web page View reports from other state |