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Occurrence of the Carabid Beetle, Pterostichus melanarius (Illiger), in Potato Ecosystems of Idaho and its Predatory Potential on the Colorado Potato Beetle and Aphids

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Abstract

Potato pest management in Idaho is primarily through insecticide applications. With the advent of newer and softer insecticides in recent years, it might be logical to explore other management options such as biological control. In this paper, we examined the prevalence and the predatory potential of a ground beetle (Carabidae) on important potato pests. An introduced generalist, Pterostichus melanarius (Illiger), is common in Idaho’s potato ecosystems. Pit fall sampling for two consecutive years in commercial potato fields indicated that P. melanarius was abundant in potato fields. However, P. melanarius was less abundant in preplant insecticide (aldicarb) treated fields when compared with untreated fields. Preference and functional response studies were conducted to evaluate the predatory potential of P. melanarius on Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), larvae and eggs, and Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas). The preference study indicated that P. melanarius contacted and/or attacked aphids only after CPB larvae and eggs. When different densities of CPB eggs, larvae, and aphids were presented, one P. melanarius adult consumed up to 61 eggs in 24 h and ate as many as 24 CPB larvae in 24 h. Also, one P. melanarius adult consumed up to 55 aphids in 24 h. Vine-climbing experiment revealed that P. melanarius climbed potato vines and actively consumed CPB eggs. However, the predation rates were approximately four times greater on eggs at lower vine portions than at upper portions. These studies indicated that P. melanarius could be a valuable biocontrol agent in potato ecosystems

Resumen

El manejo de plagas en la papa en Idaho es primeramente con la aplicación de insecticidas. Con la llegada de insecticidas nuevos y mas suaves en años recientes, debería ser lógico explorar otras opciones de manejo tales como el control biológico. En este trabajo examinamos la prevalencia y el potencial predator de un escarabajo de la tierra (Carabidae) en plagas importantes de la papa. Como un generalista introducido, Pterostichus melanarius es común en los ecosistemas de la papa en Idaho. El muestreo por trampas durante dos años consecutivos en campos de papa comercial indicaron que P. melanarius era abundante en esos campos. No obstante, P. melanarius era menos abundante en campos tratados con insecticida (aldicarb) en presiembra al compararlo con campos no tratados. Se condujeron estudios de la preferencia y respuesta funcional para estudiar el potencial predator de P. melanarius en huevos y larvas del escarabajo de la papa de colorado (CPB) Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) y de Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas). El estudio de preferencia indicó que P. melanarius contactó y/o atacó a áfidos solo después de larvas y huevos de CPB. Cuando se presentaron diferentes densidades de huevos y larvas de CPB y áfidos, un P. melanarius adulto consumió hasta 61 huevos en 24 h y se comió hasta 24 larvas en el mismo tiempo. También un P. melanarius adulto consumió hasta 55 áfidos en 24 h. En un experimento de ascenso del follaje reveló que P. melanarius subió al follaje de la papa y consumió activamente huevos de CPB. No obstante, los niveles de predación fueron aproximadamente cuatro veces mayores en huevos en porciones bajas del follaje que en porciones más altas. Estos estudios indicaron que P. melanarius podría ser un agente valioso de biocontrol en ecosistemas de papa.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. George Ball for identification of carabids, Mr. Nick Behrend for generously providing his potato fields for this work, and the Idaho Potato Commission for partial funding of this project. We also thank Ms. Yadira Medina and Ms. Monica Wiebe for technical assistance.

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  1. Rajagopalbabu Srinivasan

    Present address: Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, 2360 Rainwater Road, Tifton, GA, 31793-5766, USA

  2. Felix A. Cervantes

    Present address: Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

  3. Juan M. Alvarez

    Present address: DuPont Crop Protection, Stine Haskell Research Center, 1090 Elkton Rd, Newark, DE, 19711, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Soil and Entomological Sciences, Aberdeen R & E Center, University of Idaho, 1693 S. 2700 W, Aberdeen, ID, 83210, USA

    Juan M. Alvarez, Rajagopalbabu Srinivasan & Felix A. Cervantes

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  1. Juan M. Alvarez
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Correspondence to Rajagopalbabu Srinivasan.

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Alvarez, J.M., Srinivasan, R. & Cervantes, F.A. Occurrence of the Carabid Beetle, Pterostichus melanarius (Illiger), in Potato Ecosystems of Idaho and its Predatory Potential on the Colorado Potato Beetle and Aphids. Am. J. Potato Res. 90, 83–92 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12230-012-9279-7

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