Augmentative releases of predatory earwig Euborellia annulata for the management of Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis Guenee

Issue Date

10-2003

Abstract

The effectiveness of predatory earwig, Euborellia annulata, in the management of the Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis Guenee, the most destructive pest of corn in the Philippines, was evaluated in small- and large-scale field experiments. The use of earwigs as biocontrol agent to suppress ACB population on green corn or GC (variety Lagkitan and Asukar) and open pollinated variety or OPV (IPB-VAR-1) was evaluated, making three parasitoid releases on GC and two parasitoid releases on OPV at the rate of one earwig per sq. m. The comparative treatments consisted of earwig alone (T1), earwig plus detasseling (T2), earwig supplemented by microbial insecticide (T3), insecticide application only (farmers' practice) (T4) and no treatment as control (T5). ACB damage was monitored one week before and after each release. The computed earwig release rates were 20,000 for OPV and 30,000 for GC. Yield (tons/ha) was taken after harvest. Among the GC treatments in small-scale trials, earwig releases alone resulted in 41% higher yield compared to the untreated control. The computed income in GC was 59% for Asukar and 61% for Lagkitan more than that when farmers relied solely on insecticide application. Under large-scale trials, the ACB damage in GC was significantly lower with earwig releases, earwig plus detasseling of earwigs supplemented with microbials. Earwig releases resulted in an increase in net income by 69% for Asukar and 59% for Lagkitan, over untreated control and 87% and 67% respectively, over chemical control. The projected savings with the use of earwigs instead of insecticide to control ACB in about 600,000 ha of corn field in the country is about P120 million yearly.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

17

Issue

2

Page

184

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

OSTRINIA FURNACALIS; ZEA MAYS; PLANT PESTS; PREDATORS; INSECTICIDES; BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS; FIELD EXPERIMENTATION

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