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Landscape simplification increases the risk of infestation by the polyphagous pest Helicoverpa armigera for walnut, a novel marginal host

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Abstract

Context

Plant diversity can sometimes determine the distribution of pests in ecosystems, but the effects of plant diversity at local and landscape scales on the occurrence of pests on novel marginal hosts are still unknown.

Objectives

We explored the direct effects of plant diversity at local and landscape scales on the colonization of the marginal host walnut by Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Methods

We surveyed and compared the occurrence (and damage) of H. armigera in walnut orchards embedded in simple vs. diverse landscapes, and with weeds or without weed cover. The surrounding landscape composition and weed communities in walnut orchards were also investigated to shed light on the mechanisms driving H. armigera responses.

Results

Diverse landscapes were associated with lower densities of overwintering adult H. armigera, first generation eggs and larvae, as well as with lower infestation rates of walnut fruits. Weed presence in walnut orchards had no significant effects on the abundance of H. armigera adults or eggs, but was associated with higher larvae densities in orchards, in both simple and diverse landscapes. The effect of within-orchard weed cover on larvae was stronger in diverse landscapes.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that landscape composition coupled with local orchard ground cover vegetation mediated the occurrence of H. armigera on a marginal host walnut. Monoculture production increases walnut’s exposure to the pest and may accelerate its evolutionary adaptation to this poor host; weed cover in individual orchards may increase larval density by providing floral resources for adults.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Kaitao Wang, Hainuo Wang, Hao Li and Bowen Song for their contribution to the fieldwork. This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Funds of China (Grant No. U2003212 and 32060618).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China

    Long Yang, Haining Liu, Yunfei Pan, Haiqiang Li & Yanhui Lu

  2. Institute of Plant Protection, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumuqi, 830091, China

    Haiqiang Li

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  1. Long Yang
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  2. Haining Liu
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  3. Yunfei Pan
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  4. Haiqiang Li
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  5. Yanhui Lu
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Contributions

Y.L. conceived and designed the study. L.Y., H.L. (Haining Liu), Y.P., and H.L. (Haiqiang Li) performed the field surveys. L.Y. analyzed the data and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Yanhui Lu.

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Yang, L., Liu, H., Pan, Y. et al. Landscape simplification increases the risk of infestation by the polyphagous pest Helicoverpa armigera for walnut, a novel marginal host. Landsc Ecol 37, 2451–2464 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-022-01486-w

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