Trap crops for reducing damage caused by cabbage stink bugs (Eurydema spp.) and flea beetles (Phyllotreta spp.) on white cabbage: fact or fantasy?

摘要

In 2009 and 2010, a field experiment was carried out to determine the effect of three trap crops (oil radish, oil rape and white mustard) as a protection method against cabbage stink bugs (Eurydema spp.) and flea beetles (Phyllotreta spp.) attack on two hybrids of white cabbage. The experiment was designed as randomized complete block with four treatments. The damage caused by cabbage stink bugs and flea beetles on the main crop and the trap crops was estimated in 10-day intervals. Oil rape was the most attractive trap crop for cabbage stink bugs, while flea beetles displayed specific preference to oil radish as a trap crop in 2010. Flea beetles displayed specific preference for oil radish as a trap crop in 2010, while they did not display specific preference to any of trap crops tested in 2009. The damage caused by cabbage stink bugs on cabbage started increasing in the beginning of July. The damage caused by flea beetles, on the other hand, started increasing at the end of May. Cabbage hybrid 'Hinova' was more heavily attacked by both groups of the pests, mostly due to its longer growth period. The extent of damage on cabbage and trap crops was higher in the second year, since before 2009 no Brassica crops were grown in the near vicinity of the experimental plot. The trap crop species has no important effect on the yield of cabbage, since the pests on trap crop plants were not control with insecticides.