Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

1979

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Entomology-Zoology

First Advisor

David D. Walgenbach

Abstract

The western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera LeConte is amajor economic pest of corn in the north-central region of the United States. In 1973, yield reduction and control costs credited to the rootworm complex for a seven state area was estimated at 82 million dollars (Gerloff 1976). In 1975, South Dakota corn producers suffered a combined yield reduction and control cost of 27.5 million dollars(D. Walgenbach, South Dakota State University, personal communication). The majority of the damage to corn by the rootworm stems from larval feedng on the corn roots (Chiang 1973) Root pruning from larval feeding leads to an increase in the lodging of corn plant s and a decrease in ear size. The adult beetles cause damage, to a lesser extent than the larva, by feeding on the pollen, silks, and ear tips.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Corn -- Diseases and pests
Worms -- Eggs

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

63

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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