Document Type
Peer-Review Article
Abstract
The western bean cutworm (Striacosta albicosta (Smith)) is a key pest of corn (Zea mays L.) and dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). This observational study demonstrates that in addition to these hosts, western bean cutworm readily feeds on industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and completes development on it under controlled laboratory conditions. In the laboratory, individual larvae were reared on a diet exclusively of hemp inflorescences; 57% survived to form prepupae and 15% emerged as moths. In the field, first instars were caged on hemp plants to investigate larval development in situ. After seven days, 82% were recovered as third instars, the majority of which were found in the plant canopy. At 14 and 21 days, later-instars were increasingly recovered under residue or in the soil during daytime hours but were observed crawling and feeding in the canopy at night. This pattern of behavior is similar to western bean cutworm larvae on dry beans. Additional work is needed to document that western bean cutworm females recognize and oviposit on hemp, and that larvae infest and complete development on the crop under open field conditions.
Recommended Citation
DiFonzo, Christina D.
2022.
"Western bean cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) feeding and development on industrial hemp in the laboratory and field,"
The Great Lakes Entomologist, vol 55
(1)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22543/0090-0222.2418
Available at:
https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol55/iss1/4