Journal of Economic Entomology (2023) 116, 136-143

Xiujing Shen, Jianglong Guo, Xianming Yang, Shujun Wei and Kongming Wu (2023)
Stable isotopes indicate seasonal changes in natal geographic origins and host plants of Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée) migrants across the Bohai Strait in China
Journal of Economic Entomology 116 (1), 136-143
Abstract: The Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée), is a notorious pest of maize that migrates seasonally in Asia. Two migration peaks were found on Beihuang island in the Bohai Strait of China by observing the number of migrants. However, the origins and host plants of the migrants in the two migration periods remain unclear. Here, stable hydrogen (delta²H) and carbon (delta¹³C) isotope levels were measured to infer the origin and host plants of the O. furnacalis captured on Beihuang island in 2017-2019. delta²H in wings of spring-summer O. furnacalis captured from May to June ranged from -99 to -56‰, while that of autumn migrants from August to September ranged from -127 to -81‰. Based on the linear relationship between delta²H in the wing of migrants (delta²H_w) and delta²H in precipitation (delta²H_p), the spring-summer O. furnacalis likely originated from the summer maize area in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain in China. In contrast, the autumn migrants came from the northern spring maize area in Liaoning, Jilin and Inner Mongolia. Based on delta¹³C, the spring-summer migrants fed on both C₃ plants such as wheat (47.76%) and C₄ weeds or belonged to the over winter individuals in maize field (52.24%), while the autumn migrants mainly fed on maize (C₄, 91.21%). The results point to a northward migration in spring-summer and southward migration in autumn of O. furnacalis. Our study gives an important knowledge for improving the forecasting and management level of this pest.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Shu-Jun Wei

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
population dynamics/ epidemiology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Ostrinia furnacalis	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	China (NE)
	Ostrinia furnacalis	Wheat (Triticum)	China (NE)