Evaluating a beneficial insect lure in sweet corn

This material was first presented as an oral seminar:

John Sedlacek, Karen Friley, Leslye Brent and Michael Bomford. 2009. Populations of Beneficial Insects in Organically Grown Sweet Corn Using Methyl Salicylate Based PredaLure® Insect Attractant. Association of Research Directors Annual Conference, Atlanta Georgia, March 30, 2009.

-- Download presentation slides (250 Kb pdf) --

Objective

Determine the effects of PredaLure® beneficial insect attractant on populations of beneficial insects in organically grown sweet corn.

Materials and Methods

Baited and unbaited sweet corn plots were established on organic land at the KSU Research and Demonstration Farm in 2008

Untreated seed (‘Garrison’ hybrid)
Plants spaced 20 cm apart; rows spaced 90 cm apart
12 x 21 m plots (0.03 ha), spaced ~100 m apart
Three replicates of each pair of treatments

Five lures were placed at ear height in each baited plot (white square at right)
Five yellow sticky traps (15 x 15 cm) were placed in each plot (yellow square at right)

Traps were changed weekly through anthesis
Beneficial insects were identified and counted in the lab

Results

Abundance of beneficial insects did not differ significantly between baited and unbaited plots.

Lady beetle abundance on sticky traps in sweet corn plots with, and without PredaLure pheramone traps intended to attract beneficial insects. No significant differences were detected between treatments.

Predator Data

Big eyed bug (left) and green lacewing abundance on sticky traps in sweet corn plots with, and without PredaLure pheramone traps intended to attract beneficial insects. No significant differences were detected between treatments.

Discussion

Studies in hops in Washington have shown that the active ingredient of PredaLure attracts Asian lady beetle, seven spotted lady beetle and green lacewing. The lack of a significant treatment effect in this study may be due to inadequate separation between baited and unbaited plots or the low number of replicates. August heat may have resulted in rapid loss of the volatile active ingredient, methyl salicylate. This study should to be repeated in cooler weather, with greater separation between treatments, and with more replicates.

This study was repeated in 2009. Results for the 2009 season were presented at the 2010 Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference (Download slides, 2.3 MB pdf).

Updated January 13, 2010