GENERALIST PREDATOR CONSUMPTION OF ARMYWORM (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE) AND EFFECT OF PREDATOR REMOVAL ON DAMAGE IN NO-TILL CORN

Consumption of armyworm, Pseudaletia unipuncta Haworth, by generalist predators and the role of generalist predators in protecting com plant s from armyworm feeding damage were evaluated in laboratory feeding tr ials and in a predator-removal field study, respectively. Thirteen of the fifteen taxa evaluated in the laboratory feeding trials fed upon a rmyworm larvae. The highest consumption rates were exhibited by the ca rabids Pterostichus chalcites Say, Pterostichus lucublandus Say, and S carites subterraneus F.; the staphylinid, Platydracus maculosus Graven horst; and the lycosid, Lycosa helluo Walckenaer. The most common pote ntial armyworm predators removed from the field with pitfall traps inc luded ground beetles (Carabidae), rove beetles (Staphylinidae), ants ( Formicidae), and spiders (Araneae). Armyworm damage to com plants was significantly greater where generalist predators were removed using pi tfall traps and exclusion arenas than in the control where predator po pulations were unaltered.