title: Suitability of various turfgrass species and cultivars for development and survival of black cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).
abstract: Black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), feeding bioassays were conducted on young and mature turfgrass species to determine their potential resistance. Measures of resistance included larval weight, survival rate, instar development, pupal weight, duration of pupation, and days to pupation and adult emergence. Black cutworm reared on Poa pratensis 'Midnight', Poa arachnigera 'Tejas', and Poa pratensis X Poa arachnigera 'Reveille' exhibited slower development, lower weight, and higher overall mortality than those fed upon other turfgrasses tested. Larvae reared on Reveille did not survive to pupation and all died within 14 d. Black cutworm larvae reared on Midnight died within 17 d in trial 1 but attained pupation in trial 2. However, development of black cutworm larvae was slower on Poa pratensis Midnight compared with other susceptible turfgrass species such as Agrostis stolonifera 'Penncross', Poa annua ('DW194', 'Q98-4-6', and 'Q98-6-18'), Lolium perenne, and Poa supina 'Supranova'. Generally, larval performance on young plant tissues was better than on mature plant tissues. Larvae reared on P. pratensis 'Midnight' exhibited the most distinctive difference on young versus mature plant tissue. These results suggest that plant age may play an important role in turfgrass susceptibility and resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Williamson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D009036:Moths / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000469:parasitology*