Distribution and abundance of adult Opomyza florum (Diptera: Opomyzidae) in cereal crops and grassland.

Abstract

From 1971 to 1979 counts were made of the numbers of Opomyza florum adults found in vacuum net samples taken from cereal and grass fields on a 62-km² study area in West Sussex. In 2 years, 1974 and 1975, counts were made of the numbers of adults found in similar samples taken from hedgerow grasses. In all years, numbers of adults were highest in winter wheat crops; relatively few were found in other autumn- or spring-sown cereals or in grass fields. Mean numbers (/m²) in winter wheat in June varied from 33.0 in 1974 to only 0.9 in 1977. In most years, the first adults were found in June in winter wheat; numbers reached a peak in July and then declined rapidly. More adults were usually found in winter wheat crops that followed winter wheat in the rotation than in those following grass. Adults were also more abundant in June in winter wheat crops sown relatively early than in those sown late. The current tendencies towards earlier drilling of winter wheat and to the growth of successive wheat crops could increase the pest status of O. florum.