Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2025
Using Flight Mills to Measure Flight Propensity and Performance of Western Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte
Published on: October 29, 2019
Numerical Modeling Reveals That Resistant Western Corn Rootworm Are Stronger Fliers than Their Susceptible
Katarina M Mikac1, Darija Lemic2, Ivana Pajač Živković2
1Environmental Futures, School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong Australia, Northfields Avenue, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
Abstract:
The hindwing geometry, aspect ratio, and numerical modeling of susceptible, Bt-Corn- and rotation-resistant western corn rootworm (WCR) wings was investigated. All variants had similar hindwing geometries and aspect ratio (AR: 6-7). These AR values correspond to wings suited to lower altitude flights of a shorter distance. These AR values are characteristic of wings that can carry heavier loads and are capable of precision flying. Numerical modeling using the finite element method (FEM) showed that the Bt-Corn-resistant and rotation-resistant WCR hindwings could potentially resist higher wind speeds with minimal deformations compared to conspecific susceptible WCR. Understanding the physiology and dispersal of resistant WCR enables a better understanding of how these variants spread their alleles across large scale agricultural landscapes. This may have important implications for integrated resistant management strategies for WCR.
