Evaluation of wheat ear insects in large scale field in central Germany

Nawal Gaafar, Christa Volkmar

.

DOI: 10.4236/as.2010.12010                

Abstract

Wheat ear insects in large scale winter wheat field in Salzmünde (SaxsonyAnhalt) central Germany were evaluated. The present study aimed at studying the abundance of wheat blossom midges WBM, Sitodoplosis mosellana (Géhin), Contarinia tritici (Kirby) and thrips, Li mothrips cerealium (Haliday) and Haplothrips tritici (Kurdjumov). Infestation in winter wheat during the growing seasons 2007, 2008 and 2009 was evaluated. Three methods were used to determine population densities and damage of wheat midges and thrips; pheromone traps, inspection of ear insects and water traps. A strong correlation between midge’s catches and weather conditions was obtained in field ob servations. A positive correlation between phe romone catches and ear infestation levels was recorded; it was higher in 2008 than in 2009. On the other hand, in 2007 there was no synchro nization; S. mosellana hibernated emerged too late to coincide with the susceptible wheat growth stages. The chemical treatment applied at 2008 for highly infestation; there were sig nificant differences in thrips and midge num bers between treated and untreated. Thrips and midge numbers were lower in the treated than in control. The high midge populations in water traps were recorded at growth stages 7779 and 83 and the low populations were recorded at GS 75 and 7577. This gives a reliable base for de cision making to midges control.

Keywords

Winter Wheat; Thrips; Wheat Midges; Population Densities

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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