Population dynamics of Mexican corn rootworm in sorghum adjacent to corn
| Problem: | In several production regions of Texas, rotation of sorghum with corn is considered only moderately effective in managing the Mexican corn rootworm. This perception is supported by documented damage to first-year corn following sorghum in southern Texas, and has prompted the recommendation for use of at least low rates of soil insecticide in such first-year corn. No information is currently available to determine the usefulness of sorghum as a rotation crop with corn in other areas of Texas, or regarding the mechanisms by which rootworms may circumvent the effectiveness of this rotation. |
| Objective: | To examine spatial and temporal patterns of Mexican corn rootworm adult population in sorghum in relation to sorghum crop development, and in direct comparison to rootworm beetle population trends in adjacent corn. |
| Approach: | Presence or absence of rootworm adults in sorghum will determine the need for additional aspects of the experiment (primarily emergence cages) in corn subsequently planted to the monitored sorghum fields. Results of this experiment should indicate whether additional studies should focus on rootworm oviposition in sorghum, or if there is a need to examine the rootworm population for presence of the 2-year diapause trait identified in some populations of the western corn rootworm. |
| Significant Impact: |
Dale W. Spurgeon