Effect of Native Perennial Border Plantings on Minute Pirate Bug and Big-Eyed Bug Populations in Bt and Conventional Sweet Corn Grown in Central Kentucky

Conservation biological control is a way to potentially reduce insect pest populations by providing habitat for beneficial insects that prey on pest insects. Planting native perennial flowering plants and grasses near vegetable and fruit crops can enhance the populations of beneficial insects because they provide microhabitat, nectar, and pollen. The corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea, and the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, are the two most important ear pests of sweet corn. Both minute pirate bug and big-eyed bug are important predators of corn earworm and European corn borer eggs and small larvae and have been found to be attracted by some flowering plants. The objective of this research was to identify and quantify minute pirate bug and big-eyed bug populations in native perennial and border rows, and in Bt or conventional sweet corn plots bordered by either border type. This research was conducted at Kentucky State University\u27s Harold R. Benson Research and Demonstration Farm in Franklin County, Kentucky. Sixteen plots were created by splitting each of the eight larger existing plots into 25 m X 10 m plots with an unplanted strip between them and 2 m wide native perennial or pasture border rows. Yellow sticky traps 15 cm X 15 cm were deployed and replaced weekly to trap beneficial insects. The sticky traps were then brought back to the laboratory for identification and enumeration. Minute pirate bug populations were significantly more abundant than big-eyed bug populations. Both species were slightly more abundant in pasture than native perennial habitats. Similarly, minute pirate bug populations were significantly larger in all four sweet corn habitats. Results will be discussed with respect to border habitat and corn hybrid