Striacosta

Lafontaine, 2004

western bean cutworm (for sole species S. albicosta)

Striacosta is a of in the , established by Lafontaine in 2004. The sole , Striacosta albicosta (western bean ), is an agricultural pest to North America. The species underwent significant range expansion from the western Great Plains to eastern North America beginning in 1999. are serious pests of corn and dry bean , with documented to Cry1F Bt .

Striacosta albicosta 1 by Jacy Lucier. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.Striacosta albicosta by Jacy Lucier. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.Striacosta albicosta 2 by Jacy Lucier. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Striacosta: /ˈstraɪ.əˌkɔstə/

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Identification

The Striacosta is recognized by its single included S. albicosta. are -sized . can be distinguished from similar corn-feeding by their feeding injury pattern: western bean larvae feed on corn ear reproductive parts, typically entering through the channel and feeding on kernels, unlike () which often feeds deeper in the ear tip, or () which may cause more ragged feeding damage.

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Habitat

Agricultural croplands, specifically corn (Zea mays) and dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) fields. Soil constitutes an important component as prepupal and pupal stages occur in soil.

Distribution

to western Great Plains of North America (western Nebraska, Kansas, Idaho, eastern Colorado). Range expanded beginning 1999/early 2000s to U.S. Corn Belt, Texas, New York, Canada, and Mexico. Climate modeling indicates potential suitability for establishment in Europe, Asia, Oceania, South America, and Africa.

Diet

feed on reproductive parts of corn and dry bean plants. Feeding is concentrated on corn ears and dry bean pods.

Host Associations

  • Zea mays - primary corn ears
  • Phaseolus vulgaris - primary dry bean pods

Life Cycle

Includes , larval, prepupal, and pupal stages. Prepupal and pupal stages occur in soil.

Behavior

Documented range expansion from western to eastern North America since 1999, hypothesized to result from ecological factors (climate, resource availability, absence of ) and agronomic factors (increased cultivated areas, anthropogenic , management practices). Documented to Cry1F Bt has been observed.

Ecological Role

Agricultural . Larval feeding causes direct yield losses up to 40% in corn and 10% in dry beans. Feeding damage facilitates secondary fungal in corn ears and exposes dry bean pods to and other pests.

Human Relevance

Significant economic pest of corn and dry bean production. Management includes Bt (though to Cry1F exists), , and cultural practices. Non-Bt planting is recommended for . Subject of management programs and predictive modeling for range expansion under climate change.

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