Application of dynamic programming for guiding IPM on groundnut leafminer in India

• Published in: Crop protection Vol. 8; no. 5; pp. 349 - 357
• Main Authors: Dudley, N.J., Mueller, R.A.E., Wightman, J.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Guildford Elsevier Ltd 1989; Butterworth Scientific Limited
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Aproaerema modicella; Arachis hypogaea; Biological and medical sciences; biological control; chemical control; Control; control interactions; Demecology; dynamic programming; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Groundnut leafminer; host-plant resistance; Integrated pest control; integrated pest management; natural control; natural enemies; optimization; pest resistance; pesticide application; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; population density; population dynamics; Protozoa. Invertebrata; Protozoa. Invertebrates; simulation; simulation models; timing; India; natural control; control interactions; Groundnut leafminer; simulation; host-plant resistance; dynamic programming; chemical control; Pest; Simulation; Asia; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Population dynamics; Gelechiidae; Models; Invertebrata; Integrated pest management; India
• ISSN: 0261-2194; 1873-6904
• DOI: 10.1016/0261-2194(89)90054-9

A simulation model of the population dynamics of groundnut leafminer (GLM), Aproaerema modicella (Deventer) was built in the early stages of an IPM research project. The model was specified with experimental and farm management data from India. It was linked to a dynamic programming procedure which indicated the number of insecticide applications needed to optimize income over ranges of natural mortality and host-plant resistance, and extended to include the initial level of the GLM population, mortality caused by insecticides to natural enemies, the efficacy of insecticide application, and groundnut prices. Model results indicated that future research should evaluate the effectiveness of farmers' insecticide applications. The initial population density had a significant influence on subsequent levels of ‘damage’. Insecticide mortality of natural enemies and groundnut prices were of less importance.