Biology and integrated pest management of the tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), in Southeastern cotton

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorDorman, Seth Josephen
dc.contributor.committeechairTaylor, Sally V.en
dc.contributor.committeememberGross, Aaron Donalden
dc.contributor.committeememberKuhar, Thomas P.en
dc.contributor.committeememberMehl, Hillary L.en
dc.contributor.committeememberSchuerch, Rogeren
dc.contributor.departmentEntomologyen
dc.date.accessioned2021-11-03T06:00:11Zen
dc.date.available2021-11-03T06:00:11Zen
dc.date.issued2020-05-11en
dc.description.abstractThe tarnished plant bug (TPB), Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), has been a devastating insect pest in cotton agroecosystems in mid-southern cotton for several decades. Similar to related Heteropteran insect pests, L. lineolaris uses piercing-sucking mouthparts to penetrate harvestable fruiting structures on the cotton plant (i.e., squares, flowers, small bolls) leading to significant reductions in lint yield when infestations are above economic injury levels. Economically damaging infestations of L. lineolaris have occurred in Virginia and North Carolina cotton since 2013. In response, cotton area sprayed with broad-spectrum insecticides for L. lineolaris has increased in these states. As such, this dissertation research sought to answer a variety of questions to address this issue including 1) mapping the spatiotemporal abundance of L. lineolaris across Virginia as well as creating models to predict landscape and climate factors increasing infestation risk, 2) using a systems approach to provide growers with cost-effective and sustainable integrated pest management (IPM) solutions including economic spray thresholds, 3) investigating the incidence and transmission of fungal pathogens by L. lineolaris increasing Fusarium hardlock disease, further impacting yield loss at harvest, and 4) conducting insecticide resistance monitoring of L. lineolaris across the Southeast including biochemical lab assays to determine possible mechanisms of insecticide resistance. These findings will help form compressive IPM and insect resistant management (IRM) plans to equip southeastern cotton growers with practical management tools as well as useful information on "high-risk" areas to invest management resources, increasing economic returns while minimizing environmental impacts of over-spraying foliar insecticides.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralThe tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris) is an important pest in cotton from July through September that causes reduced yields and lower quality of lint and seed. Tarnished plant bugs cost the cotton industry hundreds of millions of dollars in losses annually. However, tarnished plant bug infestations were rare and sporadic in Virginia and North Carolina before 2013. In recent years, tarnished plant bug infestations have nearly doubled in these states, and research is needed to better understand how to manage recent pest outbreaks to avoid substantial economic losses. To address this issue, this dissertation research investigated a variety of questions including 1) the distribution of tarnished plant bugs in this region and the effects of geography and climate on infestation risk, 2) best practices for managing this pest in cotton fields, 3) possible associations between tarnished plant bugs and cotton boll diseases further impacting yield, and 4) whether tarnished plant bugs in this region are resistant to frequently used broad-spectrum insecticides as well as potential mechanisms driving resistance levels. Findings from this research will equip southeastern cotton growers with regionally specific recommendations for managing and monitoring tarnished plant bugs that minimize management costs and increase the quality and quantity of cotton yields.en
dc.description.degreeDoctor of Philosophyen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:24999en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/106496en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjecttarnished plant bugen
dc.subjectGossypium hirsutumen
dc.subjectrisk discriptionen
dc.subjectFusarium hardlocken
dc.subjectinsecticide resistanceen
dc.titleBiology and integrated pest management of the tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), in Southeastern cottonen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineEntomologyen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Dorman_SJ_D_2020.pdf
Size:
6.04 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

Doctoral Dissertations