A beetle (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) whose larvae feed on maize roots, causing lodging and yield loss, while adults feed on silks and foliage. Native to Central America, it spread through the United States Corn Belt over the twentieth century and reached Europe in the 1990s, and it is notable for repeatedly evolving resistance to crop rotation, insecticides and genetically modified Bt maize traits.
Facts
Classification
Quarantine StatusQuarantine Pest (ISPM 5) 2 Connections
Associated With
Maize, Crops The western corn rootworm, dubbed the 'billion dollar bug,' is the most economically damaging insect pest of maize in North America.
Caused By Agent Kind
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Western Corn Rootworm (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationOpening definition paragraph
The Western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, is one of the most devastating corn rootworm species in North America, especially in the midwestern corn-growing areas such as Iowa. A related species, the Northern corn rootworm, D. barberi, co-inhabits in much of the range and is fairly similar in biology.
lead description
A beetle (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) whose larvae feed on maize roots, causing lodging and yield loss, while adults feed on silks and foliage.
In Group: Beetle and Weevil Pests, Article text
In years with hot, dry summers, numbers of western corn rootworm beetles may decline rapidly after mid-August, although in summers with less extreme conditions they may be found up until the first frost.
View the Source 2. EPPO A2 List of pests recommended for regulation as quarantine pests
Introductory paragraph; Diabrotica virgifera virgifera listed under Insects and mitesQuote, Introductory paragraph; Diabrotica virgifera virgifera listed under Insects and mites
EPPO recommends its member countries to regulate the pests listed below as quarantine pests (A2 pests are locally present in the EPPO region).
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