Journal of Applied Entomology (2005) 129, 258-264

Z. Szendrei, N. Mallampalli and R. Isaacs (2005)
Effect of tillage on abundance of Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman (Col., Scarabaeidae), larvae and adults in highbush blueberry fields
Journal of Applied Entomology 129 (5), 258-264
Abstract: At 15 commercial highbush blueberry farms, fields where row middles were tilled had 72% lower larval density of Popillia japonica than fields with grass in row middles. Popillia japonica larval populations were similar in the perimeters of tilled and untilled fields. Soil parameters measured in these sites were not correlated with larval density of P. japonica. Samples of adult beetles on bushes showed that they were significantly less abundant in tilled fields compared with fields with grass in the row middles. The abundance of larvae inside fields during the spring was significantly correlated with early, but not late summer abundance of adult beetles on bushes. Comparisons of different tillage timings showed that grassy plots between rows of blueberry bushes that were tilled in spring and kept bare all year round had lower abundance of P. japonica larvae than those that retained perennial ryegrass. The effect of tillage timing on larval abundance was not consistent across 2 years, but most timings caused similar reduction in P. japonica larval density in the row middles. Tillage in the spring and in the autumn caused 50.5% and 68.8% reduction of larval density in each year respectively. These results indicate that tillage can reduce P. japonica larval and adult abundance in highbush blueberry fields.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Zsofia Szendrei, Rufus Isaacs, Nikhil Mallampalli

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Popillia japonica	Blueberry/cranberry (Vaccinium)