Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-2xdlg Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-17T00:52:25.506Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The infestation of crops of oil-seed rape (Brassica napus L.) by insect pests

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

J. B. Free  and
Ingrid H. Williams
J. B. Free
Affiliation:
Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Hertfordshire
Ingrid H. Williams
Affiliation:
Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, Hertfordshire
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

During 3 years a total of ten crops of winter rape and two crops of spring rape were sampled for insect pests and pest damage once or twice a week from the green bud stage to just before harvest. The most common pests were Meligethes aeneusFab., and Ceutorhynchus assimilisPayk.; the former was usually the more numerous, especially on spring rape crops. Ceutorhynchus quadridensPanz. and Dasyneura brassicaeWinn. were less abundant. C. assimilisand M. aeneus immigrated to winter rape crops when temperatures exceeded 15 °C. Maximum infestation of M. aeneus occurred either at the green bud stage, or when flowering began or at full flower depending on temperature; maximum infestation of G. assimilis occurred during flowering, which varied in time from mid to late May. In response to changing temperatures successive waves of immigration sometimes occurred. Immigration to spring rape occurred at green bud stage.

The two methods used for sampling pests, sweep nets and water traps, gave different results. Water trap collections primarily reflected pest flight, and were not necessarily related to the pest population on the crop.

Ovary maturation of M. aeneus occurred between their emergence from hibernation and migration to winter rape. They began laying 3 weeks after their arrival on winter rape but immediately they arrived on spring rape. The proportion of male to female M. aeneus present on crops was variable. C. assimilis fed for 3–4 weeks after their arrival on winter rape before their ovaries developed and they mated.

On both winter and spring rape the number of M. aeneus declined during flowering and that of C. assimilis declined while pods were maturing. Their decline on winter rape was associated with their emigration to new host plants. New generation M. aeneus emerged before winter and spring rape were harvested, and new generation C. assimilis emerged before spring rape but not winter rape was harvested.

The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to pest control.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 92 , Issue 1 , February 1979 , pp. 203 - 218
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1979

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alford, D. V. & Gould, H. J. (1975). Surveys of pest incidence on oil-seed rape in the U.K. Proceedings 8th British Insecticide and Fungicides Conference, pp. 489–495.Google Scholar
Ankersmit, G. W. (1956). The biology and control of the colza seed-pod weevil (Ceuthorhynchus assimilis Payk.) and the brassica pod midge (Dasyneura brassica Winn.) Instituut voor Plantenziektenkundig Onderzoek Wageningen. Mededelingen 132, 59.Google Scholar
Bonnemaison, L. (1957). Le charancon des siliques (Ceuthorrhynchus assimilis Payk.). Biologie et mithodes de lutte Annales Épiphyties 8, 387–543.Google Scholar
Coutin, R. (1961). Recherches récentes sur la Cécidomyie des Siliques du colza. Compte rendue des journeea information olegineux, Paris, 19–22.Google Scholar
Dmoch, J. (1965a). The dynamics of a population of the cabbage seed pod weevil (Ceuthorrhynchus assimilis Payk.) and the development of winter rape. Part 1. Ekologia Polska 8, 249–287.Google Scholar
Dmoch, J. (1965b). The dynamics of a population of the cabbage seed-pod weevil (Ceuthorrhynchus assimilis Payk.) and the development of winter rape. Part II. Ekologia Polska A. 13, 463–489.Google Scholar
Duffield, C. A. W. (1927). The blossom beetle (Meligetlies aeneus) attacking the seed crop of swedes, etc. Journal of the South-Eastern Agricultural College, Wye, 24, 59–63.Google Scholar
Free, J. B. & Nuttall, P. M. (1968). The pollination of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) and the behaviour of bees on the crop. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 71, 91–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Free, J. B. & Williams, Ingrid H. (1978a). A survey of the damage caused to crops of oil-seed rape (Brassica napus L.) by insect pests in south-central England and its effect on seed yield. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 90, 417–424.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Free, J. B. & Williams, Ingrid H. (1978b). The attraction of Meligethes aeneus Fab. and Ceuthorrhynchus assimilis Payk. to oil seed rape Brassica napus L., and other plants. Journal of Applied Ecology (In the Press.)Google Scholar
Gould, H. J. (1971). Alternatives to D.D.T. for the control of blossom beetle on spring sown oil-seed rape. Proceedings of the 6th British Insecticide and Fungicides Conference, pp. 316–403.Google Scholar
Gould, H. J. (1975). Surveys of pest incidence on oilseed rape in south central England. Annals of Applied Biology 79, 19–26.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kaufmann, O. (1942). Ueber Reaktionen der schossenden Rapspflanze auf Rapglanzkäferfrass und andere Schäden. Zeitschrift fur Pflanzenkrankheiten 52, 486–509.Google Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1975). Insect pests of Brassica seed crops. Advisory leaflet No. 576.Google Scholar
Risbec, J. (1952). Contribution a l'etude de Ceuthorrhynchus assimilis Payk. charançon des siliques de colza. Revue de Pathologie Vegetale et d'Entomologie Agricole 31, 179–180.Google Scholar
Soherney, F. (1953). Zur biologie der an Raps vorkommenden Meligethesarten. Zeitschrift fur Pflanzenbau 4, 154–176.Google Scholar
Williams, Ingrid H. (1978). The pollination requirements of swede rape (Brassica napus L.) and of turnip rape (Brassica campestrisL.). Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 91, 343–348.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, Ingrid H. & Free, J. B. (1978). The feeding and mating behaviour of pollen beetles (Meligethes aeneus Fab.) and seed weevils (Ceutorhynchus assimilis Payk.) on oil-seed rape (Brassica napus L.). Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 91, 453–459.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Winfield, A. L. (1961a). Studies on the relationship between three species of Coleoptera and certain species of annual mustard and rape. Entomologia experimentalis et applicata 4, 123–132.Google Scholar
Winfield, A. L. (1961b). Field observations on the control of blossom beetles (Meligethes aeneusF.) and cabbage-seed weevils (Ceuthorrhynchus assimilis Payk.) on mustard-seed crop in East Anglia. Annals of Applied Biology 49, 539–555.Google Scholar
Winfibld, A. L. (1961c). Observations on the biology and control of the cabbage stem weevil, Ceuthorrhynchus quadridens (Panz.) on trowse mustard (Brassica juncea). Bulletin of Entomological Research 52, 589–600.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Winfield, A. L. (1963). Pests of Brassica seed crops. Agriculture 70, 228–232.Google Scholar