Bulletin of Insectology (2013) 66, 93-101

Luule Metspalu, Eha Kruus, Katrin Jõgar, Aare Kuusik, Ingrid H. Williams, Eve Veromann, Anne Luik, Angela Ploomi, Külli Hiiesaar, Irja Kivimägi and Marika Mänd (2013)
Larval food plants can regulate the cabbage moth, Mamestra brassicae population
Bulletin of Insectology 66 (1), 93-101
Abstract: The effect of different food plants on various parameters of development and hibernation in the cabbage moth, Mamestra brassicae L. (Lepidoptera Noctuidae), a serious polyphagous pest, was tested. Brassica oleracea, Brassica napus, Beta vulgaris, Allium cepa and Pisum sativum, differed in their influence on larval development rate, on body mass, mass loss and mortality and on the intensity of pupal diapause. When the larvae were fed on A. cepa, B. vulgaris and particularly on P. sativum, larval development was longer, mortality was higher and pupae had a smaller body mass with diapause not deeply engaged, leading to death during hibernation. Therefore, P. sativum may be used to exhaust the resources of M. brassicae until local outbreaks perish. This study provides strategic information for establishing integrated pest management for cropping systems and for predicting the population dynamics of the cabbage moth.
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Database assignments for author(s): Luule Metspalu, Angela Ploomi

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
environment - cropping system/rotation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Mamestra brassicae	Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)	Estonia