Temporal Distribution of Major Pest and Benefical Insects On Bioenergy Crops In North Alabama.

  The occurrence of major pest and beneficial insect species has been documented on several bioenergy crops under field evaluation at Alabama A&M University’s Winfred Thomas Research Station in Meridianville, AL. Renewable feedstock being evaluated at AAMU’s Winfre Thomas Agricultural Research Station include canola (Brassica napus), sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), jatropha (Jatropha curcas), castor bean (Ricinus communis), pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas). The temporal distributions of insect species on these crops are presented. The most numerous and diverse foraging insects were observed on castor bean. Jatropha was the least attractive to insects among test crops.