Bt Sweet Corn and Selective Insecticides: Impacts on Pests and Predators
Abstract
Sweet corn, Zea mays L., is attacked by a variety of insect pests that can cause severe losses to the producer. Current control practices are largely limited to the application of broad-spectrum insecticides that can have a substantial and deleterious impact on the natural enemy complex. Predators have been shown to provide partial control of sweet corn pests when not killed by broad-spectrum insecticides. New products that specifically target the pest species, while being relatively benign to other insects, could provide more integrated control. In field trials we found that transgenic Bt sweet corn, and the foliar insecticides indoxacarb and spinosad are all less toxic to the most abundant predators in sweet corn (Coleomegilla maculata [DeGeer], Harmonia axyridis [Pallas], and Orius insidiosus [Say]) than the pyrethroid lambda cyhalothrin. Indoxacarb, however, was moderately toxic to coccinellids and spinosad and indoxacarb were somewhat toxic to O. insidiosus nymphs at field rates. Bt sweet corn and spinosad were able to provide control of the lepidopteran pests better than or equal to lambda cyhalothrin. The choice of insecticide material made a significant impact on survival of the pests and predators, while the frequency of application mainly affected the pests and the rate applied had little effect on either pests or predators. These results demonstrate that some of the new products available in sweet corn allow a truly integrated biological and chemical pest control program in sweet corn, making future advances in conservation, augmentation and classical biological control more feasible.
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For microbial insecticides, the effect can be linked to one study that used spinosad.
“In the case of microbial insecticides, the effect can be linked to one study that used spinosad [58]”
From Does the growing of Bt maize change abundance or ecological function of non-target animals compared to the growing of non-GM maize? A systematic review (2022) · cites this paper as [58]
The use of insecticides for Bt targeted pests in non-Bt crops can significantly reduce biological control function.
“In contrast, the use of insecticides for Bt targeted pests in non-Bt crops can significantly reduce biological control function (Musser and Shelton, 2003;Rose, 2005).”
From Genetically engineered crops help support conservation biological control (2019) · cites this paper as Musser and Shelton, 2003
Bt sweet corn provides better control of lepidopteran pests than lambda cyhalothrin and indoxacarb.
“Furthermore, this study demonstrated that Bt sweet corn provided better control of lepidopteran pests, and did not negatively affect the predation rates of sentinel egg masses of the European corn borer, as did lambda cyhalothrin and indoxacarb.”
From Genetically engineered crops help support conservation biological control (2019) · cites this paper as Musser and Shelton, 2003
In the northeastern US, Bt sweet corn is far less toxic to the major predators C. maculata, H. axyridis, and Orius insidiosus than the commonly used pyrethroid lambda cyhalothrin, spinosad, and indoxacarb.
“In the northeastern US where a considerable amount of sweet corn is grown, studies have shown that Bt sweet corn is far less toxic to the major predators in the system (ladybeetles C. maculata and H. axyridis and the minute pirate bug, Orius insidiosus [Hemiptera: Anthocoridae]), than the commonly used pyrethroid lambda cyhalothrin, spinosad, and indoxacarb (Musser and Shelton, 2003).”
From Genetically engineered crops help support conservation biological control (2019) · cites this paper as Musser and Shelton, 2003
Bt sweet corn does not negatively affect predation rates of sentinel egg masses of the European corn borer, whereas lambda cyhalothrin and indoxacarb do.
“Furthermore, this study demonstrated that Bt sweet corn provided better control of lepidopteran pests, and did not negatively affect the predation rates of sentinel egg masses of the European corn borer, as did lambda cyhalothrin and indoxacarb.”
From Genetically engineered crops help support conservation biological control (2019) · cites this paper as Musser and Shelton, 2003
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Wolfenbarger, L. L., Naranjo, S. E., Lundgren, J. G., Bitzer, R. J., & Watrud, L. S. (2008) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0002118 · Cited by 324 · see citing works
Genetically engineered crops help support conservation biological control
Romeis, J., Naranjo, S. E., Meissle, M., & Shelton, A. M. (2019) · Biological Control · doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2018.10.001 · Cited by 231 · see citing works
Self-citationMeissle, M., Naranjo, S. E., & Romeis, J. (2022) · Environmental Evidence · doi:10.1186/s13750-022-00272-0 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
- Authors
- Musser, F. R., & Shelton, A. M.
- Affiliations
- Cornell University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Musser, Fred R.
- Venue
- Journal of Economic Entomology
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2003-02-01
- Volume
- 96
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 71-80
- ISSN
- 0022-0493 (ISSN-L)
- 1938-291X
- OpenAlex
- W2176466349
- Cited by
- 144
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 18.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Economic Entomology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- BioOne Complete (BioOne) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Insect Resistance and Genetics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Keywords
- selective insecticides, indoxacarb, spinosad, lambda-cyhalothrin, predators, Harmonia axyridis, Orius insidiosus, Coccinellidae, lepidopteran pests, insecticide toxicity, integrated pest management, biological control, conservation biological control, classical biological control
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Aphids, Coleoptera, Zea mays, Drug Combinations, Insecticides, Larva, Lepidoptera, Ovum, Oxazines, Pest Control, Macrolides, Heteroptera
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