Studies of Predators of the Balsam Woolly Aphid, Adelges piceae (Ratz.) (Homoptera: Adelgidae): IV. Neoleucopis obscura (Hal.) (Diptera: Chamaemyiidae), an Introduced Predator in Eastern Canada

Abstract

Early in the present century the balsam woolly aphid, Adelges piceae (Ratz.), was introduced accidentally into North America. The history of its development and spread in the United States and Canada has been described by Balch (1952). At the present time, the adelgid occurs in eastern Canada over approximately the southern half of New Brunswick with an extension of the range in the extreme northeastern part of the Province, throughout Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, and in some areas of the southwestern and southeastern parts of Newfoundland.

Prey Suitability and Phenology of Leucopis spp. (Diptera: Chamaemyiidae) Associated With Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Hemiptera: Adelgidae) in the Pacific Northwest

“…Furthermore, there are no documented records of introduced chamaemyiids interfering with endemic predators in areas where they have been released for biological control of adelgids in other parts of the world (Mitchell and Wright 1967, Harris and Dawson 1979, Culliney et al 1988, Mills 1990, Humble 1994, Greathead 1995. There was speculation that the introduction of Neoleucopis obscura (Haliday) to control A. piceae in eastern Canada reduced the abundance of a native predator, Leucopina americana (Malloch), but that was never conÞrmed or quantiÞed (Brown and Clark 1957). Alternatively, one beneÞt of a wider host range is that if the adelgid species from the PaciÞc Northwest are able to readily switch between prey species in the Þeld, this could allow them to spread more quickly and survive in areas with low populations of A. tsugae in the East.…”

Field Surveys and Evaluation of Native and Established Predators of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Homoptera: Adelgidae) in the Southeastern United States

“…were in high densities from mid-April to early June when adelgid eggs, nymphs, or adults were most abundant, they may have had more of an effect on adelgid survivorship. Certain predators of A. piceae have also been found to be poorly synchronized with the adelgid life cycle Clark 1957 andAmman 1966). L. erichsonii, on the contrary, showed potential for controlling A. piceae in Canada because larvae fed earlier in the season when prey were most numerous (Clark and Brown 1958).…”

Biological control of forest aphid pests in Africa

“…(McAlpine, 1971). Its biology has been considered by Wilson (1938) and Brown & Clark (1957) and differs little from that of L. tapiae. Wilson (1938) also found Lipoleucopis praecox de Meijere feeding on P. pini in England.…”