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Parasitism of stem weevils and pollen beetles in winter oilseed rape is differentially affected by crop management and landscape characteristics

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Abstract

We examined the influence of crop management (crop density, nitrogen fertilization level) and landscape parameters [areal proportion of oilseed rape (OSR), Brassica napus L. var. oleifera Metzg. (Brassicaceae), and proportions, lengths and distances of various non-crop habitats] on the parasitism of stem weevils (Ceutorhynchus spp.; Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and pollen beetles (Meligethes spp.; Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) by parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). Larvae of host insects were sampled in 29 winter OSR fields located in landscapes ranging from structurally simple to complex. Spatial scales of landscape effects were considered at eight radii (250–2,000 m) centered in the studied OSR fields. Stem weevil parasitism was unaffected by crop management variables but negatively related to roadside strip length at radius 250 m and grassy fallow area at a radius of 500 m. Pollen beetle parasitism was positively related to the crop density and to lengths of roadside strips and hedges within a radius of 250 m. Thousand kernel mass of OSR was positively related to pollen beetle parasitism but unrelated to stem weevil parasitism.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the farmers for participating in this research project, the staff of the research farm Groß-Enzersdorf for providing post-harvest equipment and to the Austrian Science Fund for supporting J.G.Z., D.M. and T.D. (grant no. P16972). The regional governments of Lower Austria and Burgenland provided maps and aerial photographs of the project area. Help by Norbert Schuller, Erhard Tesarik, Sandra Goldschall, Florian Heigl in the field and laboratory is gratefully acknowledged. We also thank Bernd Ulber and Michael Eikermann (Univ. Göttingen, Germany) for their advice on rearing and determining parasitoids. Two anonymous referees gave valuable comments on an earlier version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Zoology, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria

    Johann G. Zaller, Dietmar Moser, Thomas Drapela, Claudia Schmöger & Thomas Frank

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  1. Johann G. Zaller
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  2. Dietmar Moser
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  3. Thomas Drapela
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  4. Claudia Schmöger
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  5. Thomas Frank
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Correspondence to Johann G. Zaller.

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Handling editor: Torsten Meiners.

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Zaller, J.G., Moser, D., Drapela, T. et al. Parasitism of stem weevils and pollen beetles in winter oilseed rape is differentially affected by crop management and landscape characteristics. BioControl 54, 505–514 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-009-9212-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-009-9212-2

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