Management of Anomala cupripes and A. expansa in soybean by using a trap cultivar in Taiwan

Abstract

Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to study the preference of two scarabaeid beetles, Anomala cupripes Hope and A. expansa Bates, for soybean plants at various growth stages and the potential use of a trap cultivar to control these pests. Insects preferred to feed on 6–9‐week‐old plants compared to younger ones. This may be due to more foliage on the older plants, which is a source of food and a shelter for the insect from direct sunlight. Planting a cultivar with more foliage as a trap cultivar between rows of the agronomic cultivar attracted the beetles and reduced the infestation of the agronomic cultivar. The optimum distance to plant such a trap cultivar between rows of agronomic cultivar needs to be determined for each location.

Keywords:

• Trap cultivar
• cultural control
• Anomala cupripes
• Anomala expansa
• soybean