Mulch type and moisture level affect pupation depth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhagoletis mendax</Emphasis> Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae) in the laboratory |
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Authors: | Justin M Renkema G Christopher Cutler Derek H Lynch Kenna MacKenzie Sandra J Walde |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford St., Halifax, NS, B3H 4J1, Canada;(2) Department of Environmental Sciences, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, P.O. Box 550, Truro, NS, B2N 5E3, Canada;(3) Department of Plant and Animal Science, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, P.O. Box 550, Truro, NS, B2N 5E3, Canada;(4) Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 4200 Highway #97, South Summerland, BC, V0H 1Z0, Canada |
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Abstract: | Mulching can be beneficial for organic highbush blueberry production, but its effects on insect pests have received little
attention. For pests that pupate in soil, depth may affect pupation success due to differences in temperature and moisture,
mortality factors such as predation, or efficacy of controls such as insecticidal soil drenches. We examined how mulch type
and moisture affect pupation depth for Rhagoletis mendax Curran (blueberry maggot), an important pest of blueberries. In laboratory studies, pupation depth was measured in wood waste
compost, uncomposted pine needles, soil and sand, each at dry, field moisture levels and wet, 99% water holding capacity conditions.
Pupation occurred more deeply but with greater variability in pine needle mulch compared to compost mulch, soil, or sand.
Approximately 50% of maggots pupated on the surface of wet soil, however, maggots burrowed more deeply in wet than in dry
pine needles. Moisture level did not significantly affect pupation depth in compost or sand. Some larvae unexpectedly escaped
the stacks of cups used to assess pupation depth or died before forming a puparium. Less than 70% of stacks with dry pine
needles contained pupae, and fewer pupae were recovered from wet than dry compost and soil. These results suggest that mulch
material and/or moisture levels can have significant impacts on R. mendax pupation depth with potential implications for its management. |
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