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THE ARTHROPOD COMMUNITY OF POTATO FIELDS IN NEW BRUNSWICK, 1979–1981

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Gilles Boiteau
Affiliation:
Research Station, Agriculture Canada, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 4Z7

Abstract

The arthropod fauna of New Brunswick potato fields was surveyed using pitfalls, yellow pan traps, ground cloths, and sweepnets. Of the more than 560 species or group-species identified during the 3-year study, at least 80% were transient ones indicating a loosely structured community of insects. Terricolous arthropods typically had a lower number of species and a more even distribution than aerial arthropods but a similar index of diversity. The proportion of parasitic and predatory species was high suggesting a potential for the use of native biological control techniques in potato pest management programs.

Résumé

Un inventaire des arthropodes des champs de pomme de terre du Nouveau-Brunswick à été réalisé au moyen de pièges de Barber, de pièges de Moericke, de battoirs, et de filets. Pendant les 3 années de l'étude, plus de 560 espèces ou groupes d'espèces ont été identifiés. Au moins 80% des insectes n'étaient que de passage, indiquant une communauté d'insectes à structure lâche. Typiquement, les arthropodes du sol avaient un nombre d'espèces plus bas et une distribution plus uniforme que les arthropodes au niveau des plantes mais un indice de diversité similaire. La proportion élevée des espèces parasites et prédatrices suggère que l'utilisation des techniques de lutte biologique dans les programmes de lutte aux insectes nuisibles de la pomme de terre a du potentiel.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1983

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