Larval damage of Hylamorpha elegans (Burm.) on wheat plants sown in soils with different particulate organic matter content

摘要

Hylamorpha elegans (Burm.) larvae cause economic damage in cereal crops and pastures in southern Chile. It has been observed that adding manure to soil, which is a source of labile organic matter, reduces the damage to pasture plants by several scarabeid species. This type of organic matter can provide alternative or additional food for scarab larvae which may be effective in reducing the intensity of larval damage. Larval damage by H. elegans on wheat plants sown in soils with different proportions of particulate organic matter (POM 9.1%, 6.8% and 5.3%) was examined. Root damage was estimated from the difference in weight of roots in the scarab treatments and that in the respective controls. The highest POM decreased root damage by larvae of H. elegans, possibly because POM acts as an alternative food source or the high soil respiration associated with POM can dilute the cues emitted by the plants' roots.