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Applying an Integrated Refuge to Manage Western Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): Effects on Survival, Fitness, and Selection Pressure
Journal of Economic Entomology
  • Jennifer L. Petzold-Maxwell, Iowa State University
  • Analiza P. Alves, DuPont Pioneer
  • Ronald E. Estes, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Michael E. Gray, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Lance J. Meinke, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • Elson J. Shields, Cornell University
  • Stephen D. Thompson, DuPont Pioneer
  • Nicholas A. Tinsley, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Aaron J. Gassmann, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-2013
DOI
10.1603/EC13088
Abstract

The refuge strategy can delay resistance of insect pests to transgenic maize producing toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). This is important for the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), because of its history of adaptation to several management practices. A 2-yr study across four locations was conducted to measure the effects of integrated refuge (i.e., blended refuge) on western corn rootworm survival to adulthood, fitness characteristics, and susceptibility to Bt maize in the subsequent generation. The treatments tested in this study were as follows: a pure stand of Bt maize (event DAS-59122-7, which produces Bt toxins Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1), a pure stand of refuge (non-Bt maize), and two variations on an integrated refuge consisting of 94.4% Bt maize and 5.6% non-Bt maize. Within the two integrated refuge treatments, refuge seeds received a neonicotinoid insecticidal seed treatment of either 1.25 mg clothianidin per kernel or 0.25 mg thiamethoxam per kernel. Insects in the pure stand refuge treatment had greater survival to adulthood and earlier emergence than in all other treatments. Although fecundity, longevity, and head capsule width were reduced in treatments containing Bt maize for some site by year combinations, Bt maize did not have a significant effect on these factors when testing data across all sites and years. We found no differences in susceptibility of larval progeny to Bt maize in bioassays using progeny of adults collected from the four treatments.

Comments

This article is from Journal of Economic Entomology 106 (2013): 2195, doi:10.1603/EC13088. Posted with permission.

Rights
This article is the copyright property of the Entomological Society of America and may not be used for any commercial or other private purpose without specific permission of the Entomological Society of America.
Copyright Owner
Entomological Society of America
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Jennifer L. Petzold-Maxwell, Analiza P. Alves, Ronald E. Estes, Michael E. Gray, et al.. "Applying an Integrated Refuge to Manage Western Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): Effects on Survival, Fitness, and Selection Pressure" Journal of Economic Entomology Vol. 106 Iss. 5 (2013) p. 2195 - 2207
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/aaron_gassmann/37/