Genetically modified corn on fall armyworm and earwig populations under field conditions

Abstract

The effects of corn MON810 on the Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) and the earwig Doru luteipes (Scudder) were tested under field conditions in Brazil. Results from MON810 corn fields were compared with those fields of conventional corn with and without the application of insecticides in four harvests in the region of Barretos, SP. It was assessed the damage to S. frugiperda via direct counts of the number of fall armyworms and adults and nymphs of the predator D. luteipes on corn plants. The rate of S. frugiperda damage and the average numbers of larvae (large and small) were lower in the MON810 corn field relative to the control plot. There were no differences (P>0.05) between treatments regarding the predator abundance in corn plants. The second crop season ("safrinha") showed the greatest extent of S. frugiperda damage and the lowest average abundance of earwigs. MON810 was effective in controlling S. frugiperda and abundance of predator D. luteipes was similar in the three treatments under field conditions.