Tuesday, September 11, 2007

A detector dog for Helicoverpa pupae

Mr. Greg Horrocks1, Dr. Allison Crook1, Dr. David Murray1, Mr. Richard LLoyd1, and Mr. Bruce A. Pyke2. (1) Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Tor St, Toowoomba, Australia, (2) Cotton Research and Development Corporation, 2 Lloyd St, Narrabri, Australia

Resistance management in Helicoverpa armigera is a high priority for both conventional insecticides and transgenic Bt technology (Bollgard®II).  Over-wintering pupae are the most vulnerable stage in the life cycle of H. armigera, and management efforts have been directed at reducing survival of this stage through the use of ‘pupae busting’, or disturbance by cultivation to a depth of 10 cm.  Pupae busting is mandatory for Bollgard®II crops, and recommended for conventional (non-Bt transgenic) crops.  While there has been a high level of pupae busting compliance, it is associated with some disadvantages - cultivation loses soil moisture resulting in lost opportunity to double crop, alters soil structure under wet conditions and is hard on machinery under dry conditions.  There is a need for improved pupae detection/sampling methods to assist researchers and to aid grower decisions.  Following a successful feasibility study showing that dogs could be trained to locate pupae in fields, CRDC and Monsanto funded a study to calibrate the pupae detection dog against known field densities of pupae, and develop its capacity for field application.

See more of Arthropod Management Posters
See more of Arthropod Management

See more of The World Cotton Research Conference-4 (September 10-14, 2007)