Effect of Planting Date, Plant Spacing, and Weed Cover on Populations of Insects, Arachnids, and Entomophthoran Fungi in Potato Fields

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Abstract
The average daily abundance of arachnids, carabids, coccinellids, ants, staphylinids, mummified aphids, and entomophthoran fungi was the same in 15- and 36-cm within-row seed spacings and over a wide range of weed cover. Carabids were significantly less abundant in herbicide-treated plots. The tests confirm previous observations that late plantings can significantly reduce populations of Macrosiphum euphorbiae and Aphis nasturtii. Of the other arthropods monitored, only the carabids showed a tendency for increased populations in early-planted potatoes.