Tillage and Soil Insecticide Effects on Predator–Black Cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Interactions in Corn Agroecosystems

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Abstract
Metal enclosures were used to confine black cutworm (BCW), Agrotts ipsilon (Hufnagel), larvae in different corn agroecosystems to ascertain the effects of cropping systems (tillage and previous crop), soil-insecticide (phorate) use and predator removal on BCW damage to corn. Absolute-density estimates of predaceous soil arthropods were taken in each treatment. Treatments in the conventional tillage corn following soybean system had significantly more cut plants and fewer predators than plots for the no-tillage corn following soybean system. Treatments where soil insecticide was applied contained significantly more cutworm-damaged corn plants and fewer predators than areas not receiving the soil insecticide. Enclosures where predators were removed had significantly more cut corn plants than enclosures where predators were not removed. The use of tillage and a soil insecticide significantly increased the number of cut plants when predators were not removed. However, the use of tillage and of the soil insecticide did not significantly increase the number of damaged plants when predators were removed. This study showed that the endemic soil-predator complex is a major factor in reducing BCW damage in corn agroecosystems.