It is often assumed that plant resistance to insects and biological control are two
compatible nonchemical controls that can be used in integrated pest management systems. This
assumption was tested with grain sorghum, greenbugs and convergent lady beetles. Greenbugs
were reared on 3 grain sorghum hybrids (2 resistant; Dekalb DK-41Y, DK-59E, and 1
susceptible; Horizon 101G) and then fed to convergent lady beetle for all of their larval
development. Lady beetles fed on greenbugs from resistant sorghums took significantly longer to
complete larval development (although this difference was only about 0.1 day), and had significantly lower survival (5-21%
lower, dependent on hybrid). Female convergent lady beetles weighed significantly less when fed
greenbugs from one resistant sorghum hybrid, but not when fed on another. These studies point
to the need to carefully evaluate interactions between control practices. Benefits of resistant
sorghums include decreasing greenbug survival and reproduction and increasing the development
period of greenbugs, which must be balanced with the negative effects on convergent lady
beetles documented in this study.
Source: M. E. Rice & G. E. Wilde. 1989. Antibiosis effect of sorghum on the convergent lady beetle, a third-trophic
level predator of the greenbug. J. Econ. Entomol. 82: 570-573.
