Getreideblattläuse als Grundlage zur biologischen Bekämpfung der Pfirsichblattlaus, Myzus persicae (Sulz.), mit Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rond.) (Dipt., Cecidomyiidae) in Gewächshäusern

Abstract

Cereal aphids as prey species for mass rearing of Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rond.) (Dipt., Cecidomyiidae) in the biological control of Myzus persicae (Sulz.) in greenhouses Laboratory tests indicate that the cereal aphids Sitobion avenue, Metopolophium dirhodum and Rhopalosiphum padi possessed higher nutritive value for the larvae of Aphidoletes aphidimyza than the green peach aphid Myzus persicae. Adult weight and egg production from larval reserve substances were significantly increased. The duration of larval and pupal stage and the rate of adult emergence were the same between the aphid species.Results of greenhouse experiments using an open rearing unit of A. aphidimyza on cereal aphids show that the predatory midge could reproduce in and disperse from the open rearing unit to successfully control populations of peach aphids on sweet pepper. In the midge treated greenhouses the aphid population densities remained at very low levels throughout the entire vegetation period. In the midge free greenhouses, however, population growth of the aphid increased very rapidly reaching peak population densities 4-5 weeks after aphid infestation. In two of the experiments midges were accidentally introduced into the midge free greenhouse. It became evident that the midge were able to suppress aphid populations effectively, even if the aphid density had reached a relatively high level.Cereal aphids are suggested as prey species for mass rearing of A . aphidimyza. The effectiveness of A . aphidzmyza in suppressing aphid populations and the advantages of using open rearing unit in form of a "cereal aphids -A. aphidzmyza"system for control greenhouse aphids are discussed.

Predation rate and performance of three ladybirds against the green peach aphid Myzus persicae in sweet pepper

“…Aphid biological control in sweet pepper is usually approached using one of two strategies: (1) prevention, aiming to release biocontrol agents that will prevent or inhibit the establishment and development of new aphid infestations, and (2) curing, by mass‐releasing entomophagous arthropods to suppress the aphid population outbreaks (Blümel, ; Powell & Pell, ). Examples of natural enemies used preventatively, often in combination with banker plants, include the parasitoids Aphidius colemani Viereck, Aphidius matricariae (Haliday), Aphidius ervi Haliday, and Aphelinus abdominalis Dalman as well as the gall midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani) (Hansen, ; Rabasse et al., ; Gilkeson & Hill, ; Kuo‐Sell, ; Shijko, ; van Schelt, ). Recently, releases of zoophytophagous mirid predators in sweet pepper, such as Macrolophus pygmaeus Rambur, have shown potential in preventing aphid infestations (Messelink et al., , ; Pérez‐Hedo & Urbaneja, ).…”

Predators and Parasitoids-in-First: From Inundative Releases to Preventative Biological Control in Greenhouse Crops

“…This can lead to a reduction of survival and male biased sex ratio of the parasitoids (Hoddle et al, 1998;Chau and Mackauer, 2001;Henry et al, 2005). Gall midges produced on aphid species of poor nutritional value can also suffer in terms of size and fecundity (Kuo-Sell, 1989). Natural enemies may be reluctant to switch from aphids on the banker plant to the crop aphids (Lester et al, 2000;Coyle et al, 2011) which can hamper the establishment of beneficials on the crop.…”

Predation rate and numerical response ofAphidoletes aphidimyzafeeding on different densities ofAphis craccivora

“…Larvae of this predator feed on a wide variety of aphids; at least 80 species have been recorded as prey (Yukawa, Yamaguchi, Mizota, & Setokuchi, 1998), e.g., Aphis pomi (Adams & Pronokopy, 1980;Morse & Croft, 1987); Aphis spiraecola Patch (Brown, 2004), Dysaphis plantaginea Pass. (Wyss, Villiger, & Müller-Schärer, 1999); M. persicae Schultzer (Choi, Lee, Paik, & Kim, 2001), Diuraphis noxia Kurdjumov (Tóth, Tóthová, & Lukáš, 2009); Brevicoryne brassicae L. (Raworth, Frazer, Gilbert, & Wellington, 1984), as well as the cereal aphids, Rhopalosiphum padi Linnaeus, Sitobion avenae Fabricius and Metopolophium dirhodum Walker (Kuo-Sell, 1989). Life table parameters of A. aphidimyza have been studied by developing a software designed to measure intrinsic rates of increase (Hulting, Orr, & Obrycki, 1990) and a Jackknife subsampling method (Efron, 1982;Meyer, Ingersoll, McDonald, & Boyce, 1986) when reared on A. fabae Scopoli (Hemiptera: Aphididae) feeding on bean seedlings (Vicia faba L.) (Havelka & Zemek, 1999).…”