1995 NCR-148 Sound bites Arizona The distribution of field captured whiteflies can be described as bimodal, confirming behavior observed in the laboratory that a portion of the population is composed of trivial fliers that do not engage in migration and are consequently captured in traps near the field and a portion initially is associated with skylight, ignoring cues provided by the ground, and fly for a period of time before landing in distant traps. Illinois scientists are developing and testing a phased array ultrasonic insect tracking system designed to determine aphid flight trajectories through the surface layer of the atmosphere and into the planetary boundary layer. Iowa researchers are looking at the implications of migration in the management of insect resistance to transgenic corn that expresses the toxin gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Although resistance may not be a problem with the black cutworm or true armyworm because of the large numbers of alternate hosts, this may not be the case for the corn earworm where both Bt-cotton and Bt-corn are planted. Concerns center around how quickly resistant genotypes will spread to other regions of North America. Louisiana set out to validate earlier results and also examine flight fuel and flight potential in a southern premigrant source population and a northern population composed of recent immigrants of the true armyworm. The variables measured included: 1) adults collected in sex pheromone and black-light traps, 2) female mating status and ovarian development, 3) weight of dorsal-longitudinal muscle, 4) lipid (flight fuel) levels, and 5) flight potential. Michigan combines meteorological information with land-use data and real-time satellite imagery using geographic information systems to quantify the environmental characteristics at both the origin, along the transport route and at the geographic endpoint of the transported biota. Physical and biological features on the ground may influence organism transport patterns. Minnesota is estimating genetically significant long distance migration to document the subcontinental structure of European corn borer populations and enable the prediction of the rates at which highly resistant lines can be expected to spread. Mississippi scientists studied the movement of male Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), tobacco budworm, with mark/release/recapture during emergence of the over wintering generation in the Delta (a major cotton and soybean production area) near Greenville, MS in 1982, 1983, 1992, and 1993. Missouri and Texas researchers continued their collaborative research with pheromone-baited traps for black cutworm (BCW) moths in Texas and Missouri. Data suggest that BCWs in Texas migrate beginning in February from the southern regions to the north-central area. These limited data also suggest that this north-central area may be the "loading dock" and "launching pad" for moths that migrate into the Midwest during the spring months. Nebraska scientists are examining the implications of possible long range movement of wheat curl mites with consequent mixing of the wheat streak mosaic virus populations. North Carolina plant pathologists and meteorologists produced a real time spore transport model to forecast the position and concentration of tobacco blue mold spores. The model was tested and used in the spring and summer of 1995 to warn growers of potential epidemics. North Dakota research data suggests that ascospores of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum readily escape small grain canopies and that infested grain fields are an important source of inoculum for Sclerotinia diseases. Ohio researchers have found that aster yellows epidemics in vegetables are initiated by migrating inoculative aster leafhoppers. Scientists are trying to refine a PCR assay to quickly detect the phytoplasma in migrating leafhoppers. Oklahoma Historically management recommendations have ignored migration of stored product insects, however in studies in farm and commercial grain storage facilities the past 4 years, results indicate short and long term movement into facilities are very important in developing a stored grain management programs. South Carolina and Georgia scientists are determining how the behavioral characteristics associated with dispersal-like and long-duration flight behaviors of the fall armyworm are influenced by infestation with the external parasitic nematode, Noctuidonema guyanense. Over the past year a computer-based actograph system for remote monitoring of tethered moth flight behavior was constructed. Texas researchers developed several new techniques in preparing corn earworm (CEW) moths and boll weevils (BW) for pollen analyses, finding new natural markers and adding new data to the foraging resources of these two insect pests. In cooperative research with Louisiana on the migration of the true armyworm, sex pheromone and blacklight traps were operated in an agricultural area close to College Station, TX, to monitor adult activity and response and to collect moth samples for reproductive, physiological and flight analyses. Field populations were also sampled at night in ergot-infected ryegrass. Large numbers of moths representing several migratory species were observed feeding on the ergot honeydew. It appears that the honeydew from ergot-infected ryegrass may be an important food source for early-season migrants.
Last updated 31 May, 2007 This page was constructed by Gail Kampmeier at gkamp[at]uiuc.edu Please direct questions of content and prospects of collaborative research to respective scientists. Research reports do not constitute publication and results may be preliminary. They are included here for informational purposes only. You should contact the authors for further information. Any references to commercial products do not constitute endorsement. [ NCR-148 \| Movement & Dispersal Index \| News Index ]

1995 NCR-148 Sound bites

Arizona The distribution of field captured whiteflies can be described as bimodal, confirming behavior observed in the laboratory that a portion of the population is composed of trivial fliers that do not engage in migration and are consequently captured in traps near the field and a portion initially is associated with skylight, ignoring cues provided by the ground, and fly for a period of time before landing in distant traps.

Illinois scientists are developing and testing a phased array ultrasonic insect tracking system designed to determine aphid flight trajectories through the surface layer of the atmosphere and into the planetary boundary layer.

Iowa researchers are looking at the implications of migration in the management of insect resistance to transgenic corn that expresses the toxin gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Although resistance may not be a problem with the black cutworm or true armyworm because of the large numbers of alternate hosts, this may not be the case for the corn earworm where both Bt-cotton and Bt-corn are planted. Concerns center around how quickly resistant genotypes will spread to other regions of North America.

Louisiana set out to validate earlier results and also examine flight fuel and flight potential in a southern premigrant source population and a northern population composed of recent immigrants of the true armyworm. The variables measured included: 1) adults collected in sex pheromone and black-light traps, 2) female mating status and ovarian development, 3) weight of dorsal-longitudinal muscle, 4) lipid (flight fuel) levels, and 5) flight potential.

Michigan combines meteorological information with land-use data and real-time satellite imagery using geographic information systems to quantify the environmental characteristics at both the origin, along the transport route and at the geographic endpoint of the transported biota. Physical and biological features on the ground may influence organism transport patterns.

Minnesota is estimating genetically significant long distance migration to document the subcontinental structure of European corn borer populations and enable the prediction of the rates at which highly resistant lines can be expected to spread.

Mississippi scientists studied the movement of male Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), tobacco budworm, with mark/release/recapture during emergence of the over wintering generation in the Delta (a major cotton and soybean production area) near Greenville, MS in 1982, 1983, 1992, and 1993.

Missouri and Texas researchers continued their collaborative research with pheromone-baited traps for black cutworm (BCW) moths in Texas and Missouri. Data suggest that BCWs in Texas migrate beginning in February from the southern regions to the north-central area. These limited data also suggest that this north-central area may be the "loading dock" and "launching pad" for moths that migrate into the Midwest during the spring months.

Nebraska scientists are examining the implications of possible long range movement of wheat curl mites with consequent mixing of the wheat streak mosaic virus populations.

North Carolina plant pathologists and meteorologists produced a real time spore transport model to forecast the position and concentration of tobacco blue mold spores. The model was tested and used in the spring and summer of 1995 to warn growers of potential epidemics.

North Dakota research data suggests that ascospores of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum readily escape small grain canopies and that infested grain fields are an important source of inoculum for Sclerotinia diseases.

Ohio researchers have found that aster yellows epidemics in vegetables are initiated by migrating inoculative aster leafhoppers. Scientists are trying to refine a PCR assay to quickly detect the phytoplasma in migrating leafhoppers.

Oklahoma Historically management recommendations have ignored migration of stored product insects, however in studies in farm and commercial grain storage facilities the past 4 years, results indicate short and long term movement into facilities are very important in developing a stored grain management programs.

South Carolina and Georgia scientists are determining how the behavioral characteristics associated with dispersal-like and long-duration flight behaviors of the fall armyworm are influenced by infestation with the external parasitic nematode, Noctuidonema guyanense. Over the past year a computer-based actograph system for remote monitoring of tethered moth flight behavior was constructed.

Texas researchers developed several new techniques in preparing corn earworm (CEW) moths and boll weevils (BW) for pollen analyses, finding new natural markers and adding new data to the foraging resources of these two insect pests.

In cooperative research with Louisiana on the migration of the true armyworm, sex pheromone and blacklight traps were operated in an agricultural area close to College Station, TX, to monitor adult activity and response and to collect moth samples for reproductive, physiological and flight analyses. Field populations were also sampled at night in ergot-infected ryegrass. Large numbers of moths representing several migratory species were observed feeding on the ergot honeydew. It appears that the honeydew from ergot-infected ryegrass may be an important food source for early-season migrants.