Athetis lepigone (Proxenus lepigone), a new corn insect pest in China, is expected to cause more serious damage in China in 2012 than 2011, which may threaten the production of summer corn in the country, according to CCM International’s June issue of Insecticides China News.
Athetis lepigone is an alien pest introduced from Japan, South Korea and Russia. Damage caused by it was firstly reported on seedling stage of summer corn in Hebei Province in 2005, then reported in Henan Province in 2007 and Shandong Province in 2008.
From 2005 to 2010, the total yield loss caused by Athetis lepigone was very small. However, its occurrence area expanded rapidly in 2011, coming to nearly 2.67 million ha. according to the data from National Agro-Tech Extension Service Center (NATESC). The outbreak of Athetis lepigone happened in Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shanxi and Beijing, which are the production regions of summer corn in China (also known as the Huang-Huai-Hai summer corn region, the major production base of corn in China), causing great yield losses to the corn production in the region.
The occurrence area of Athetis lepigone in 2012 will be over 2.67 million ha., and the damage will be heavier than last year, according to a forecast conference on pests and diseases held by NATESC early this year. The control of this pest this year is quite a severe task.
Owing to the great loss that Athetis lepigone causes to corn production, the reasons that cause its outbreak in 2011 were studied by many researchers in China. They found out that the occurrence of Athetis lepigone in corn field in where farmers apply straw returning method is much more serious than that without this method. In production region of summer corn, many farmers sow corn seed after the harvest of wheat. In recent years, they usually put wheat straw back to the field rather burn it. It is believed that wheat straw in corn field provides a very good habitation for Athetis lepigone, result in the outbreak in 2011 after years of propagation.
The larvae of Athetis lepigone hide in the straw. It bites the stem of corn in its seedling stage, causing leaf wilting and death. This can cause a huge loss to corn production, especially with the promotion of precise sowing for corn production in China. In recent years, the method of precise sowing single seed, "one hole for only one seed", has been widely applied by domestic farmers. Under the application of this method, seedling death will great impact the yield of corn.
At present, this pest has drawn great attention from NATESC, which has started a project of forecasting the occurrence of Athetis lepigone and launched training for the control of it.
However, more things should be done to successfully control Athetis lepigone.
Firstly, the study and training for the control of Athetis lepigone should be strengthened. Athetis lepigone is still a new kind of insect pest to many farmers in China; they don't have the knowledge of it. In 2011, many farmers took Athetis lepigone as cutworm.
Secondly, pesticides controlling Athetis lepigone should be developed. At present, no pesticide has been registered to control it in China. Farmers have to use unregistered pesticides such as chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, lambda-cyhalothrin, deltamethrin, chlorantraniliprole and imidacloprid (seed coating).
Athetis lepigone is a threat to corn production, but it also brings opportunities to pesticide players. It is reported that the effect of the existing pesticide controlling Athetis lepigone is not so satisfactory. It is hard to control Athetis lepigone because it hides under the straw.
Source: Insecticides ChinaNews 1206
http://www.cnchemicals.com/Newsletter/NewsletterDetail_1.html
Main content of Insecticides China News 1206:
Hubei Sanonda embraces great opportunities
Jiangsu Anpon's 2011 insecticide revenue declines
Jiangsu Chunjiang to relocate technical production lines
Noposion's net profit falls 12.45% in Q1 2012
China promotes pesticide registration on vegetables
Hunan: four pesticide companies face overall relocation
Price of overseas companies' pesticides keeps rising
Counterfeiting of etoxazole serious in China
Production licenses of 0.40% chlorantraniliprole GR approved
Second fipronil formulation for domestic market approved
First fosthiazate EC to control root-knot nematode in China
Athetis lepigone threatens summer corn production in China
Pest occurrence on early rice more serious over last year
… …
Insecticides China News, a monthly publication issued by CCM International on 10th of every month, provides the latest and influential analysis on insecticide industry for you, including company dynamics, supply and demand, price analysis, policy, raw material and intermediate.
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