Diabrotica

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Diabrotica spp.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Family: Chrysomelidae Subfamily: Galerucinae Tribe: Luperini Genus: Diabrotica
Species & subspecies
Diabrotica balteata Diabrotica barberi Diabrotica beniensis Diabrotica cristata Diabrotica curvipustulata Diabrotica dissimilis Diabrotica elegantula Diabrotica emorsitans Diabrotica graminea Diabrotica hispanolae Diabrotica lemniscata Diabrotica linsleyi Diabrotica longicornis Diabrotica milleri Diabrotica nummularis Diabrotica occlusa Diabrotica porracea Diabrotica scutellata Diabrotica speciosa Diabrotica tibialis Diabrotica trifasciata Diabrotica undecimpunctata duodecimpunctata Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Diabrotica undecimpunctata tenella Diabrotica undecimpunctata undecimpunctata Diabrotica virgifera hausteca Diabrotica virgifera virgifera Diabrotica virgifera zeae Diabrotica viridula

Diabrotica is a widespread genus of beetles, sometimes referred to as cucumber beetles or corn rootworms, in the family Chrysomelidae. Members of this genus include several destructive agricultural pest species. Corn rootworms are one of the most destructive corn insects economically in the United States. The Western corn rootworm, D. virgifera virgifera, and the Northern corn rootworm, D. barberi, are the most devastating rootworm species in Iowa, a major corn-growing area. A third species, the Southern corn rootworm, D. undecimpunctata howardi, causes much economic damage in other regions. Corn rootworm larvae can destroy significant percentages of corn if left untreated. In the United States, current estimates show that 30 million acres of corn (out of 80 million grown) are infested with corn rootworms and the number of infested acres is expected to grow over the next 20 years. The United States Department of Agriculture estimates that corn rootworms cause $1 billion in lost revenue each year, which includes $800 million in yield loss and $200 million in cost of treatment for corn growers (The Dow Chemical Company).

Pest species in North America:

• Banded cucumber beetle, Diabrotica balteata
• Northern corn rootworm, Diabrotica barberi
• Spotted cucumber beetle (a.k.a. Southern corn rootworm), Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi
• Western cucumber beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata tenella
• Western spotted cucumber beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata undecimpunctata
• Western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera
• Mexican corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera zeae

[edit] References

Wright, R., L. Meinke and K. Jarvi. Corn Rootworm Management. University of Nebraska. July 1999. Viewed February 3, 2007.