Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T18:11:46.087Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Long-term changes in the numbers of Helicoverpa punctigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in a cotton production landscape in northern New South Wales, Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 November 2016

G.H. Baker*
Affiliation:
CSIRO Agriculture and Food, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, A.C.T. 2601, Australia
C.R. Tann
Affiliation:
CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Locked Bag 59, Narrabri, N.S.W. 2390, Australia
*
*Author for correspondence Tel: +61 2 6246 4406 Fax: 61 2 6246 4094 E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Two noctuid moths, Helicoverpa punctigera and Helicoverpa armigera, are pests of several agricultural crops in Australia, most notably cotton. Cotton is a summer crop, grown predominantly in eastern Australia. The use of transgenic (Bt) cotton has reduced the damage caused by Helicoverpa spp., but the development of Bt resistance in these insects remains a threat. In the past, large populations of H. punctigera have built up in inland Australia, following autumn-winter rains. Moths have then migrated to the cropping regions in spring, when their inland host plants dried off. To determine if there have been any long-term changes in this pattern, pheromone traps were set for H. punctigera throughout a cropping landscape in northern New South Wales from 1992 to 2015. At least three generations of moths were caught from spring to autumn. The 1st generation (mostly spring migrants) was the most numerous. Trap captures varied between sites and decreased in time, especially for moths in the 1st generation. Nearby habitat type influenced the size of catch and there was some evidence that local weather also influenced the numbers of moths caught. There was no correlation between trap catches in the cropping region and rainfall in the inland. In addition, there was little evidence that Bt cotton has reduced the abundance of H. punctigera at landscape scale. The apparent decline in the number of presumably Bt susceptible moths arriving each spring in the cropping regions from inland habitats is of concern in relation to the management of Bt resistance.

Type
Research Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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

Adamczyk, J.J. & Hubbard, D. (2006) Changes in populations of Heliothis virescens (F.) (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) and Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) in the Mississippi Delta from 1986 to 2005 as indicated by adult male pheromone traps. Journal of Cotton Science 10, 155160.Google Scholar
Baker, G.H. & Tann, C.R. (2016) Broad-scale suppression of cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae), associated with Bt cotton crops in northern New South Wales, Australia. Submitted to Bulletin of Entomological Research.Google Scholar
Baker, G.H., Tann, C.R. & Fitt, G.P. (2008) Production of Helicoverpa spp. (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) from different refuge crops to accompany transgenic cotton plantings in eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59, 723732.Google Scholar
Baker, G.H., Tann, C.R. & Fitt, G.P. (2011) A tale of two trapping methods : Helicoverpa spp. (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) in pheromone and light traps in Australian cotton production systems. Bulletin of Entomological Research 101, 923.Google Scholar
Baker, G.H., Leven, T., May, A. & Tann, C.R. (2016) Planting window requirements for Bt cotton in Australia: do they limit the exposure of Helicoverpa spp. (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) to Bt toxins? Austral Entomology 55, 3242.Google Scholar
Carrière, Y., Ellers-Kirk, C., Sisterson, M., Antilla, L., Whitlow, M., Dennehy, T.J. & Tabashnik, B.E. (2003) Long-term regional suppression of pink bollworm by Bacillus thuringiensis cotton. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 100, 15191523.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cattaneo, M.G., Yafuso, C., Schmidt, C., Huang, C-Y., Rahman, M., Olson, C., Ellers-Kirk, C., Orr, B.J., Marsh, S.E., Antilla, L., Dutilleul, P. & Carrière, Y. (2006) Farm-scale evaluation of the impacts of transgenic cotton on biodiversity, pesticide use, and yield. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 103, 75717576.Google Scholar
Cotton Australia (2013) Cotton and Biotechnology. Available online at: http://cottonaustralia.com.au/cotton-library/fact/fact-sheets/cotton-fact-file-biotechnology Google Scholar
Dent, D.R. & Pawar, C.S. (1988) The influence of moonlight and weather on catches of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) in light and pheromone traps. Bulletin of Entomological Research 78, 365377.Google Scholar
Dowling, D. (2015) (Ed.) Cotton Yearbook 2015. The Australian Cottongrower. Toowoomba, Australia, Greenmount Press.Google Scholar
Downes, S. & Mahon, R. (2012 a) Evolution, ecology and management of resistance in Helicoverpa spp. to Bt cotton in Australia. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 110, 281286.Google Scholar
Downes, S. & Mahon, R. (2012 b) Successes and challenges of managing resistance in Helicoverpa armigera to Bt cotton in Australia. GM Crops and Food: Biotechnology in Agriculture and the Food Chain 3, 228234.Google Scholar
Downes, S.J., Mahon, R.J. & Olsen, K. (2007) Adaptive resistance management in Australia for Bt-cotton: current status and future challenges. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 95, 208213.Google Scholar
Downes, S.J., Parker, T.L. & Mahon, R.J. (2009) Frequency of alleles conferring resistance to the Bacillus thuringiensis toxins Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab in Australian populations of Helicoverpa punctigera (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) from 2002 to 2006. Journal of Economic Entomology 102, 733742.Google Scholar
Downes, S., Mahon, R., Rossiter, L., Kauter, G., Leven, T., Fitt, G. & Baker, G. (2010 a) Adaptive management of pest resistance by Helicoverpa species (Noctuidae) in Australia to the Cry 2Ab Bt toxin in Bollgard II® cotton. Evolutionary Applications 3, 574584.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Downes, S.J., Parker, T.L. & Mahon, R.J. (2010 b) Incipient resistance of Helicoverpa punctigera to the Cry2Ab Bt toxin in Bollgard® cotton. PLoS ONE 5, e12567.Google Scholar
Duffield, S.J. (2004) Evaluation of the risk of overwintering Helicoverpa spp. pupae under irrigated summer crops in south-eastern Australia and the potential for area-wide management. Annals of Applied Biology 144, 1726.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Duffield, S.J., Winder, L. & Chapple, D.G. (2005) Calibration of sampling techniques and determination of sample size for the estimation of egg and larval populations of Helicoverpa spp. (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) on irrigated soybean. Australian Journal of Entomology 44, 293298.Google Scholar
Fitt, G.P. (1989) The ecology of Heliothis species in relation to agroecosystems. Annual Review of Entomology 34, 1752.Google Scholar
Fitt, G.P. (2000) An Australian approach to IPM in cotton:integrating new technologies to minimise insecticide dependence. Crop Protection 19, 793800.Google Scholar
Fitt, G.P. (2003) Deployment and impact of transgenic Bt cottons in Australia. pp. 141164 in Kalaitzandonakes, N.G. (Ed.) The Economic and Environment Impacts of Agbiotech. New York, USA, Kluwer.Google Scholar
Fitt, G.P. (2004) Implementation and impact of transgenic Bt cottons in Australia. pp. 371381 in Swanepoel, A. (Ed.) Cotton Production for the New Millenium. Proceedings of the 3rd World Cotton Research Conference. Pretoria, South Africa, Agricultural Research Council – Institute for Industrial Crops.Google Scholar
Fitt, G.P. (2008) Have Bt crops led to changes in insecticide use patterns and impacted IPM? pp. 309328 in Romeis, J., Shelton, T.M. & Kennedy, G. (Eds) Integration of Insect-Resistant GM crops within IPM Programs. Progress in Biological Control Series. Heidelberg, Germany, Springer-Verlag.Google Scholar
Fitt, G.P. & Cotter, S.C. (2004) The Helicoverpa problem in Australia: biology and management. pp. 4561 in Sharma, H.C. (Ed.) Heliothis/Helicoverpa Management. Emerging Trends and Strategies for Future Research. New Delhi, India, Oxford & IBH Publishing.Google Scholar
Fitt, G.P. & Daly, J.C. (1990) Abundance of overwintering pupae and the spring generation of Helicoverpa spp. (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) in northern New South Wales, Australia : implications for pest management. Journal of Economic Entomology 83, 18271836.Google Scholar
Fitt, G.P., Zalucki, M.P. & Twine, P. (1989) Temporal and spatial patterns in pheromone-trap catches of Helicoverpa spp. (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) in cotton-growing areas of Australia. Bulletin of Entomological Research 79, 145161.Google Scholar
Fitt, G.P., Gregg, P., Zalucki, M. & Twine, P. (1990) The ecology of Heliothis spp. in inland Australia: what relevance to the cotton industry? pp. 313325 in Proceedings of the 5th Australian Cotton Conference. Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia.Google Scholar
Fitt, G.P., Mares, C.L. & Llewellyn, D.J. (1994) Field evaluation and potential ecological impact of transgenic cottons (Gossypium hirsutum) in Australia. Biocontrol Science and Technology 4, 535548.Google Scholar
Forrester, N.W., Cahill, M., Bird, L.J. & Layland, J.K. (1993) Management of pyrethroid and endosulfan resistance in Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) in Australia. Bulletin of Entomological Research 83, 563578.Google Scholar
Gregg, P.C. & Wilson, A.G.L. (1991) Trapping methods for adults. pp. 3048 in Zalucki, M.P. (Ed.) Heliothis: Research Methods and Prospects. New York, USA, Springer-Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gregg, P.C., Fitt, G.P., Zalucki, M.P., Murray, D.A.H. & McDonald, G. (1993) Winter breeding and spring migration of Helicoverpa spp. in inland Australia, 1989–1991. pp. 460463 in Corey, S.A., Dall, D.J. & Milne, W.M. (Eds) Pest Control and Sustainable Agriculture. Canberra, Australia, CSIRO.Google Scholar
Gregg, P.C., Fitt, G.P., Zalucki, M.P. & Murray, D.A.H. (1995) Insect migration in an arid continent. II. Helicoverpa spp. in eastern Australia. pp. 151172 in Drake, V.A. & Gatehouse, A.G. (Eds) Insect Migration : Tracking Resources Through Time and Space. Cambridge, UK, Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Hartstack, A.W. & Witz, J.A. (1981) Estimating field populations of tobacco budworm moths from pheromone trap catches. Environmental Entomology 10, 908914.Google Scholar
Hutchison, W.D., Burkness, E.C., Mitchell, P.D., Moon, R.D., Leslie, T.W., Fleisher, S.J., Abrahamson, M., Hamilton, K.L., Steffey, K.L., Gray, M.E., Hellmich, R.L., Kaster, L.V., Hunt, T.E., Wright, R.J., Pecinovsky, K., Rabaey, T.L., Flood, B.R. & Raun, E.S. (2010) Areawide suppression of European corn borer with Bt maize reaps savings to non-Bt maize growers. Science 330, 222225.Google Scholar
Maas, S. (2014) (Ed.) Australian Cotton Production Manual 2014. Toowoomba, Australia, Greenmount Press.Google Scholar
Maelzer, D.A. & Zalucki, M.P. (1999) Analysis of long-term light-trap data for Helicoverpa spp. (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) in Australia : the effect of climate and crop plants. Bulletin of Entomological Research 89, 455463.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maelzer, D.A. & Zalucki, M.P. (2000) Long range forecasts of the numbers of Helicoverpa punctigera and H. armigera (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) in Australia using the Southern Oscillation Index and the Sea Surface Temperature. Bulletin of Entomological Research 90, 133146.Google Scholar
Maelzer, D.A., Zalucki, M.P. & Laughlin, R. (1996) Analysis and interpretation of long term light trap data for Helicoverpa punctigera (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) in Australia: population changes and forecasting pest pressure. Bulletin of Entomological Research 86, 547557.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mahon, R., Olsen, K., Garsia, K. & Young, S. (2007) Resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis toxin Cry2Ab in a strain of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) in Australia. Journal of Economic Entomology 100, 894902.Google Scholar
Mahon, R.J., Downes, S.J. & James, B. (2012) Vip3A resistance alleles exist at high levels in Australian targets before release of cotton expressing this toxin. PLoS ONE 7, 16.Google Scholar
Morton, R., Tuart, L.D. & Wardhaugh, K.G. (1981) The analysis and standardisation of light-trap catches of Heliothis armiger (Hübner) and H. punctiger Wallengren (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 71, 207225.Google Scholar
Murray, D.A.H. (1992) Investigation into the development and survival of Heliothis spp. pupae in southeast Queensland. PhD Thesis, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.Google Scholar
Oertel, A., Zalucki, M.P., Maelzer, D.A., Fitt, G.P. & Sutherst, R. (1999) Size of the first spring generation of Helicoverpa punctigera (Wallengren) (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) and winter rain in central Australia. Australian Journal of Entomology 38, 99103.Google Scholar
Reed, W. & Pawar, C.S. (1982) Heliothis : a global problem. pp. 914 in Reed, W. & Kumble, V. (Eds) Proceedings of International Workshop on Heliothis Management Problem. Patancheru, India, ICRISAT.Google Scholar
Rochester, W.A., Dillon, M.L., Fitt, G.P. & Zalucki, M.P. (1996) A simulation model of the long-distance migration of Helicoverpa spp. moths. Ecological Modelling 86, 151156.Google Scholar
Sequeira, R.V. (2004) Recruitment and loss of juvenile stages of Helicoverpa spp. (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) on contaminant plants in chickpea crops. Australian Journal of Entomology 43, 164168.Google Scholar
Sequeira, R.V. & Moore, A.D. (2003) Aggregative oviposition behaviour of Helicoverpa spp. (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) in contaminated chickpea crops. Australian Journal of Entomology 42, 2934.Google Scholar
Shelton, A.M., Zhao, J.Z. & Roush, R.T. (2002) Economic, ecological, food safety, and social consequences of the deployment of Bt transgenic plants. Annual Review of Entomology 47, 845881.Google Scholar
Tabashnik, B.E., Gassmann, A.J., Crowder, D.W. & Carrière, Y. (2008) Insect resistance to Bt crops: evidence versus theory. Nature Biotechnology 26, 199202.Google Scholar
Tabashnik, B.E., Van Rensburg, J.B.J. & Carrière, Y. (2009) Field-evolved insect resistance to Bt crops: definition, theory, and data. Journal of Economic Entomology 102, 20112025.Google Scholar
Tabashnik, B.E., Brévault, T. & Carrière, Y. (2013) Insect resistance to Bt crops: lessons from the first billion hectares. Nature Biotechnology 31, 510521.Google Scholar
Tay, W.T., Mahon, R.J., Heckel, D.G., Walsh, T.K., Downes, S., James, W., Lee, S.F., Reineke, A., Williams, A.K. & Gordon, K.H.J. (2015) Insect resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis toxin Cry2Ab is conferred by mutations in an ABC transporter subfamily A protein. PLoS Genetics 11, e1005534.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wan, P., Huang, Y., Tabashnik, B.E., Huang, M. & Wu, K. (2012) The halo effect: suppression of pink bollworm on non-Bt cotton by Bt cotton in China. PLoS ONE 7, e42004.Google Scholar
Wilson, A.G.L. (1983) Abundance and mortality of overwintering Heliothis spp. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 22, 191199.Google Scholar
Wilson, A.G.L. (1984) Some factors affecting the efficiency of pheromone traps. pp. 184–193 in Proceedings of the 2nd Australian Cotton Conference. Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.Google Scholar
Wilson, A.G.L., Lewis, T. & Cunningham, R.B. (1979) Overwintering and spring emergence of Heliothis armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) in the Namoi Valley, New South Wales. Bulletin of Entomological Research 69, 97109.Google Scholar
Wilson, A.G.L. & Morton, R. (1989) Some factors affecting the reliability of pheromone traps for measurement of the relative abundance of Helicoverpa punctigera (Wallengren) and H. armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 79, 265273.Google Scholar
Wu, K-M., Lu, Y-H., Feng, H-Q., Jiang, Y-Y. & Zhao, J-Z. (2008) Suppression of cotton bollworm in multiple crops in China in areas with Bt toxin-containing cotton. Science 321, 16761678.Google Scholar
Zalucki, M.P. & Furlong, M.J. (2005) Forecasting Helicoverpa populations in Australia: a comparison of regression based models and a bioclimatic based modelling approach. Insect Science 12, 4556.Google Scholar
Zalucki, M.P., Daglish, G., Firempong, S. & Twine, P.H. (1986) The biology and ecology of Heliothis armigera (Hübner) and H. punctigera (Wallengren) (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) in Australia. What do we know? Australian Journal of Zoology 34, 779814.Google Scholar
Zalucki, M.P., Gregg, P.C., Fitt, G.P., Murray, D.A.H., Twine, P.H. & Jones, C. (1994) Ecology of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and H. punctigera Wallengren in the inland areas of eastern Australia: larval sampling and host plant relationships during winter/spring. Australian Journal of Zoology 42, 329346.Google Scholar
Zalucki, M.P., Adamson, D. & Furlong, M.J. (2009) The future of IPM: whither or wither? Australian Journal of Entomology 48, 8596.Google Scholar