Host plants of the tobacco flea beetle, Epitrix parvula F.
</p> <p>A study of the host plants of the tobacco flea beetle was made in Pittsylvania County from April 1 to September 23, 1939. The work was divided into field observations, rearing experiments end population studies. From field observations made throughout the season it was found that...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Others |
| Language: | en |
| Published: |
Virginia Tech
2014
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10919/44717 http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-09092008-063854/ |
| Summary: | </p>
<p>A study of the host plants of the tobacco flea beetle
was made in Pittsylvania County from April 1 to September
23, 1939. The work was divided into field observations, rearing
experiments end population studies.
From field observations made throughout the season it was
found that this insect fed mostly on the solanaceous plants.
especially tobacco. In the spring before the tobacco was
transplanted and in the late summer after the harvesting of
the crop, the flea beetle fed on a wide variety or plants.</p>
<p>
Rearing experiments were made using 29 plant species
representing 11 families most of which were known as hosts
of the adult beetle. These were planted in a small plot of
land of a common tobacco soi1. Beetles were caged over these
for 4 days and records were kept as to the number of adults
that developed from the eggs laid. No beetles emerged from
any of the non-solanaceous plants, whereas at least a few
developed on all the Solanaceae tested. Many more beetles
developed on tobacco, potato and jimson weed than on any of
the others.</p>
<p>
For the population studies tobacco flea beetle and
solanaoeous weed counts were made in 14 tobacco fields selected
for this purpose. Beetle counts were made at weekly
intervals from May 26 until the middle of August and were
computed to show the average number of beetles per tobacco plant. </p>
<p>
Weed counts were made in June and September and were
computed to show the average number of weeds per 100 square
yards. The data indicated that only tobacco in the beds and
potato in the field were of importance in building up the
early flee beetle infestation of tobacco.</p> === Master of Science |
|---|