. Cooperative economic insect report. Beneficial insects; Insect pests. INSECTS NOT KNO\VN TO OCCUR IN THE UNITED STATES A SCARAB (Phyllopertha nazarena Marsuel) Economic Importance: The species, first described from Israel in 1878, is a seri- ous pest of wheat, other cereals, and many dicotyledonous plants. Severe damage was observed at Merhavia, Israel, in 1936. Yellow patches began appearing in young wheat, each patch was about 1/4 to 1 acre in size. Of a field of 550 acres, 66 acres were destroyed. In 1938 normal yield of the region was 264 pounds per acre while average yield of infest
. Cooperative economic insect report. Beneficial insects; Insect pests. INSECTS NOT KNO\VN TO OCCUR IN THE UNITED STATES A SCARAB (Phyllopertha nazarena Marsuel) Economic Importance: The species, first described from Israel in 1878, is a seri- ous pest of wheat, other cereals, and many dicotyledonous plants. Severe damage was observed at Merhavia, Israel, in 1936. Yellow patches began appearing in young wheat, each patch was about 1/4 to 1 acre in size. Of a field of 550 acres, 66 acres were destroyed. In 1938 normal yield of the region was 264 pounds per acre while average yield of infested wheatfields was 66 pounds per acre. Larvae feed on roots of young plants, causing loss of vigor, and reducing yield. In some fields, damage to 25 percent has been reported. In Israel, it is known to be a serious grain pest only in the inland valleys. Distribution: Israel, Syria, Jordan, and possibly Cyprus. Hosts: ^Vheat, barley, other small grains and many dicotyledonous General Distribution of Phyllopertha nazarena Marsuel Life History and Habits: In Israel, adult females oviposit in cracks in the soil during June. Eggs are laid at a depth of 15-24 inches, where temperature and low humidity cannot affect them. Eggs are dormant until rains begin during November. Absorption of water causes them to hatch. The larva feeds at night on cereal roots from December into March; descends into the soil, prepares a cell where it remains until the first rain in November. The larva molts, crawls to upper soil levels to feed. This cycle is repeated about two times. After the third cycle, the larval length has increased to about 30 mm. The larva descends again about April and pupates. Pupal stage lasts 5-15 days. The young beetle remains in the cell until the body hardens about late May. Adults emerge 3 years after hatching. They are active from 8 to 10 and 4 to 6 , but seek shelter when tempera- tures go above 27° C. The adults do not feed, and the life span is only
Size: 2059px × 1213px
Photo credit: © The Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, booksubjectbeneficialinsects, booksubjectinsect
