Influence of Soil Temperature, Rainfall, and Planting and Harvest Dates on Chaetocnema confinis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Damage to Sweetpotato Roots

摘要: A study was carried out in 10 counties of North Carolina from 2004 to 2006 determine the effect planting and harvest times on flea beetle, Chaetocnema confinis Crotch (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), damage sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas (L.), storage roots. Planting harvesting sweetpotatoes later season resulted less than early harvesting. Regression analysis done relationship weather parameters with beetle damage. Weather included air temperature (Celsius), soil at 5- 10-cm depth rainfall (millimeters), moisture (volume:volume) 0-10-, 10-40-, 40-100-cm depth. The best regression model mean depth, total rainfall, number adults caught yellow sticky traps as independent variables (all between 1 August date each field). Soil adult catches C. were positively related damage, whereas negatively correlated. explained 45% variation alone accounted for 32% followed by (9%) (4%). When time interval limited 30 d before harvest, still explanatory variable accounting 23% (7%) Understanding effects planting/harvesting factors will be useful predicting when sweetpotato crop is greater risk high levels confinis.