Abstract
This research is focused on a comparative field-based study of the population dynamics and sampling methods of two mealybug species, Saccharicoccus sacchari (Cockerell, 1895) (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha, Pseudococcidae) and Heliococcus summervillei (Brookes, 1978) (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha, Pseudococcidae), in sugarcane (Saccharum sp. hybrids) (f. Poaceae) over consecutive growing seasons. The research monitored and compared the above- and belowground populations and seasonal abundance of these two mealybug species in sugarcane fields in Far North Queensland, with non-destructive sampling techniques of yellow sticky traps, pan traps, and stem traps, and destructive sampling of the whole leaf and whole plant. The results indicated that S. sacchari (n = 29,137) was more abundant and detected throughout the growing season, with population peaks in the mid-season, while H. summervillei (n = 2706) showed peaks of the early-season activity. S. sacchari is primarily located on sugarcane stems and roots, compared to H. summervillei, which is located on leaves and roots. The whole-leaf collection and stem trap were the most effective sampling techniques for quantification of H. summervillei and S. sacchari, respectively. This study enhanced the understanding of S. sacchari and the first-ever record of H. summervillei on sugarcane in Australia and will contribute to the development of more effective pest management strategies.
Abstract from the paper’s OpenAlex record; open copy licensed cc-by. Read at the source ↗
The text the model read, with the source record’s inline markup (italics, sub- and superscripts) rendered and its character entities decoded; quote offsets refer to the raw text.
Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Saccharicoccus sacchari was more abundant, with 29,137 individuals, and peaked in mid-season.
- Taxon
- S. sacchariSaccharicoccus saccharie0
- Interactor
- H. summervilleiHeliococcus summervilleie0pest
- Outcome
- more abundante0
- Direction
- more abundante0
- Value
- 29,137e0
- Comparator
- H. summervilleie0
Verbatim
e0“S. sacchari (n = 29,137) was more abundant and detected throughout the growing season, with population peaks in the mid-season, while H. summervillei (n = 2706) showed peaks of the early-season activity.”
Claim · model-written summary
Heliococcus summervillei numbered 2,706 and peaked early in the season.
- Taxon
- H. summervilleiHeliococcus summervilleie0
- Outcome
- peaks of the early-season activitye0
- Value
- 2706e0
Verbatim
e0“H. summervillei (n = 2706) showed peaks of the early-season activity.”
Claim · model-written summary
Saccharicoccus sacchari was primarily on sugarcane stems and roots.
- Taxon
- S. sacchariSaccharicoccus saccharie0
- Organ / stage
- stems and rootse0
- Outcome
- located on sugarcane stems and rootse0
Verbatim
e0“S. sacchari is primarily located on sugarcane stems and roots, compared to H. summervillei, which is located on leaves and roots.”
Claim · model-written summary
Heliococcus summervillei was located on leaves and roots.
- Taxon
- H. summervilleiHeliococcus summervilleie0
- Organ / stage
- leaves and rootse0
- Outcome
- located on leaves and rootse0
Verbatim
e0“H. summervillei, which is located on leaves and roots.”
Claim · model-written summary
Whole-leaf collection was most effective for quantifying H. summervillei.
- Taxon
- H. summervilleiHeliococcus summervilleie0
- Outcome
- most effective sampling techniques for quantificatione0
- Direction
- most effectivee0
- Comparator
- stem trape0
Verbatim
e0“The whole-leaf collection and stem trap were the most effective sampling techniques for quantification of H. summervillei and S. sacchari, respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
Stem trap was most effective for quantifying S. sacchari.
- Taxon
- S. sacchariSaccharicoccus saccharie0
- Outcome
- most effective sampling techniques for quantificatione0
- Direction
- most effectivee0
- Comparator
- whole-leaf collectione0
Verbatim
e0“The whole-leaf collection and stem trap were the most effective sampling techniques for quantification of H. summervillei and S. sacchari, respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
The study records H. summervillei on sugarcane in Australia for the first time.
- Taxon
- H. summervilleiHeliococcus summervilleie0
- Interactor
- sugarcanee0host
- Outcome
- first-ever recorde0
- Setting
- Australiae0
Verbatim
e0“first-ever record of H. summervillei on sugarcane in Australia”