Abstract
Two important habitat management strategies in pasture systems involve controlled burning and effective grazing manipulation schemes to maintain native climax grassland vegetation These climax grasslands have historically suffered less insect pest pressure than imported systems However, these types of grasslands are difficult to reestablish after relatively severe disruption by man Also, the proper diversity and stability is difficult to capture in developing imported systems. Imported pastures can exhibit substantial yields per land unit but are often composed of vegetation that rapidly mines nutrients stored by the native vegetation, and often need considerable inputs of fossil fuel, manufactured fertilizers and pesticides, because they are or become very susceptible to pestiferous insects. Habitat manipulation efforts can be effective in regulating forage pest populations below economic levels in imported pasture systems Such efforts include: 1) land use (coupled with plant diversity, grazing, and harvest manipulations), 2) sanitation (including controlled burning), 3) planting dates and harvest times (including grazing manipulations), 4) tillage methods, 5) fertilization, 6) trap crops, 7) water management, and 8) fire management for insect pest suppression and augmentation of natural enemies.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Allen, W. W., and R. F. Smith. 1958. Some factors influencing the efficiency ofApanteles medicaginis Muesebeck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) as a parasite of the alfalfa caterpillar,Colias philodice eurytheme Boisduval.Hilgardia 28:1–43.
Altieri, M. A., A. von Schoonhoven, and J. Doll. 1977. The ecological role of weeds in insect pest management systems: A review illustrated by bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) cropping systems.PANS 23:195–205.
Altieri, M. A., and W. H. Whitcomb. 1979. Manipulation of insect populations through seasonal disturbance of weed communities.Protection Ecol. 1:185–202.
Anonymous. 1980. Pastagens do plantio à colheita. Quimbrasil, Dep. Técnico-Agr. 50 pp.
Beavis, W. D., J. C. Owens, M. Ortiz, T. S. Bellows, Jr., J. A. Ludwig, and E. W. Huddleston. 1981. Density and developmental stage of range caterpillar,Hemileuca oliviae Cockerell, as affected by topographic position.J. Range Management. 35:389–392.
Bell, H. M. 1973. Rangeland management for livestock production. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK. 298 pp.
Casagrande, R. A., and F. W. Stehr. 1973. Evaluating the effects of harvesting alfalfa on alfalfa weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and parasite populations in Michigan.Can. Entomol. 105:1119–1128.
Coppel, H. C., and J. W. Mertins. 1977. Biological insect pest suppression. Springer-Verlag, New York, NY. 314 pp.
Cosenza, G. W., R. P. de Andrade, D. T. Gomes, and C. M. C. da Rocha. 1981. O controle integrado das cigarrinhas das pastagens.Comunicado Técnico EMBRAPA. 17:1–6.
Dyksterhuis, E. J. 1949. Condition and management of rangeland based on quantitative ecology.J. Range Management. 2:104–115.
Genung, W. G. 1976. Flooding in Everglades soil pest management.Proc. Tall Timbers Conf. on Ecol. Animal Control by Habitat Management 6:165–172.
Gyrisco, G. G. 1958. Forage insects and their control.Ann. Rev. Entomol. 3:421–448.
Hall, I. M., and P. H. Dunn. 1957. Fungi on spotted alfalfa aphid.Calif. Agr. 11(2):5–14.
Hawkins, J. A., B. H. Wilson, C. L. Mondart, B. D. Nelson, R. A. Farlow, and P. E. Schilling. 1979. Leafhoppers and planthoppers in coastal bermudagrass: Effect on yield and quality and control by harvest frequency.J. Econ. Entomol. 72:101–104.
Heady, H. F. 1975. Rangeland management. McGraw-Hill, New York, NY. 460 pp.
Heath, M. E., D. S. Metcalfe, and R. F. Barnes. 1973. Forages, the science of grassland agriculture. 3rd ed. Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA. 755 pp.
Hewitt, G. B. 1977. Review of forage losses caused by rangeland grasshoppers. U. S. Dep. Agr. Misc. Pub. 1348. 21 pp.
Hunter, J. S. 1905. Studies in grasshopper control. Calif. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 170. 8 pp.
Kamm, A. J., and R. J. Fuxa. 1977. Management practices to manipulate populations of the plant bugLapops hesperius Uhler.J. Range Management 30:385–387.
Knutson, H., and J. B. Campbell. 1976. Relationships of grasshoppers (Acrididae) to burning, grazing, and range sites of native tallgrass prairie in Kansas.Proc. Tall Timbers Conf. on Ecol. Animal Control by Habitat Management 6:107–120.
Komarek, E. V., Sr. 1967. Fire and the ecology of man. Pages 143–170in 6th Annual Proceedings of the Timbers Fire Ecology Conference.
—. 1970. Insect control—fire for habitat management. Pages 157–171in Proceedings of the Tall Timbers Conference on Ecological Animal Control by Habitat Management.
Kozlowski, T. T., and C. E. Ahlgren, 1974. Fire and ecosystems. Academic Press, New York, NY. 542 pp.
Lynch, R. E., P. B. Martin, and J. W. Garner. 1980. Cultural manipulation of coastal bermudagrass to avoid losses from the fall armyworm.Fla. Entomol. 63:411–421.
Martin, P. B. 1976. Cabbage looper, soybean looper, and tobacco budworm populations near Quincy, Florida: seasonal abundance, host preference, and suppression by natural enemies. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Florida. University Microfilms International, Ann Arbor, MI. 255 pp.
Martin, P. B., P. D. Lingren, G. I. Greene, and A. H. Baumhover. 1981. Seasonal occurrence ofRachiplusia ou, Autographa biloba, and associated entomophages in clover.J. Ga. Entomol. Soc. 16:288–295.
Menz, K. M., and H. C. Knipscheer. 1981. The location specificity problem in farming systems research.Agr. Systems 7:95–103.
Morrill, W. L. 1978. Emergence of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae) from some Georgia grasslands.Environ. Entomol. 7:895–896.
Morrill, W. L., P. B. Martin, and E. F. Suber. 1980. Pasture and forage insects. Pages 22–23in J. W. Todd and E. F. Suber, eds. Summary of economic losses due to insect damage and costs of control in Georgia. University of Georgia Exp. Sta. Spec. Publ. 8.
Naito, A., K. Kanda, and M. Miyazaki. 1977. Studies on cultural control of grasses in pasture on occurrence of insect pests.Bull. National Grassland Res. Inst. 11:120–130.
Navas, D. In press. El manejo integrado de plagas en los pastos.In K. J. Andrews, ed. El manejo integrado de plagas en Centro America.
Naves, M. A. 1980. As cigarrinhas das pastagens e sugestões para o seu controle. EMBRAPA, CPAC.Circular Técnica. 3:1–27.
Ràbb, R. L., and G. G. Kennedy. 1979. Movement of highly mobile insects: concepts and methodology in research. University Graphics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC. 78 pp.
Riegert, P. W., and J. L. Varley. 1973. Above-ground invertebrates. III. Bioenergetics of grasshoppers. Canadian Committee for IBP Matador Project Technical Rep. 17. 93 pp.
Roddy, W. C. 1972. The ecological impact of common and coastal bermudagrass,Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., on populations of the grasshoppersDichromorpa viridis (Sculder) andMelanoplus femurrubum (Deg.). Ph.D. Dissertation. Lousiana State University. University Microfilms International, Ann Arbor, MI. 55 pp.
Santos, C. A. dos, F. Stermann, and P. P. Stermann. 1979. Aproveitamento da pastagem nativa no Cerrado. V. Simpósio Sobre o Cerrado. EMBRAPA-CPAC.Circular Técnica 5:419–436.
Smith, R. F., and R. van den Bosch. 1967. Integrated control. Pages 295–340in W. W. Kilgore and R. I. Doutt, eds. Pest control: Biological, physical, and selected chemical control methods. Academic Press, New York, NY.
Todd, J. G., and J. A. Kamm. 1974. Biology and impact of a grass bugLabops hesperius Uhler in Oregon rangeland.J. Range Management 27:453–458.
Watts, J. G., and T. D. Everett. 1976. Biology and behavior of the range caterpillar.New Mexico Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 646:1–32.
Way, M. J. 1966. The natural environment and integrated methods of pest control.J. Applied Ecol. 3:29–32.
Whitcomb, W. H., and K. Bell. 1964. Predaceous insects, spiders, and mites of Arkansas cotton fields. Arkansas Exp. Sta. Bull. 690. 84 pp.
Wilson, B. H., S. Phillips, and H. M. Harris. 1973. Species and seasonal occurrence of leafhoppers and planthoppers in coastal bermudagrass pasture in the Macon Ridge area of Louisiana.J. Econ. Entomol. 66:1346–1347.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Martin, P.B. Insect habitat management in pasture systems. Environmental Management 7, 59–64 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01867042
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01867042