Journal
BIOCONTROL
Volume 59, Issue 1, Pages 19-28Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s10526-013-9540-0
Keywords
Brassica napus; Meligethes aeneus; Parasitoids; Attractiveness of host plants; Cruciferous weeds; Trap cropping
Categories
Funding
- Estonian Science Foundation [8895]
- Estonian Ministry of Education and Research [SF 0170057s09]
- [P9003PKPK]
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It is often suggested that weeds from the same family as the crop plant may increase insect pest damages by providing shelter and additional oviposition opportunities. We compared the relative attractiveness of Brassica rapa L., B. juncea L., Sinapis alba L. and B. napus L. (Capparales: Brassicaceae) to the pollen beetle and its hymenopteran parasitoids in field conditions. Our results revealed that none of the investigated plants increased the pest abundance on B. napus plants. On the contrary, B. juncea and S. alba lured beetles away from B. napus during its damage-susceptible stage. The parasitism rate of pollen beetle larvae was the highest on B. juncea plants, indicating that cruciferous weeds could improve the natural control of the pollen beetle by providing additional hosts for parasitoids. Therefore, close relatives of oilseed rape might be used to trap pollen beetle adults, but also to support populations of natural enemies that could decrease the number of beetles.
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