Journal of Applied Entomology (2011) 135, 673-681

M.R. Mehrnejad, M.A. Jalali and R. Mirzaei (2011)
Abundance and biological parameters of psyllophagous coccinellids in pistachio orchards
Journal of Applied Entomology 135 (9), 673-681
Abstract: The abundance of coccinellids on pistachio trees was monitored at both a cultivated pistachio plantation and a wild pistachio growing area in Rafsanjan, Iran. Eleven ladybird species were identified from planted pistachio trees with Adalia bipunctata (Linnaeus) and Oenopia conglobata contaminata (Menetries) the most abundant ladybirds. At the wild pistachio plantation site, 17 coccinellid species were collected, with Brumus undulatus Weise the most abundant ladybird, followed by A. bipunctata and O. conglobata contaminata. Three species of Coccinellidae were evaluated for their potential for biological control of the common pistachio psylla (CPP), Agonoscena pistaciae Burckhardt and Lauterer. Coccinella undecimpunctata aegyptica (Reiche), Exochomus nigripennis (Erichson) and Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) developed successfully on A. pistaciae nymphs and reproduced successfully. Development and reproduction of these ladybirds were also examined on an alternative prey, the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii Glover, the most abundant aphid species on herbal weeds in pistachio orchards. The highest intrinsic rate of natural increase (r_m value) was observed in C. undecimpunctata aegyptica, 0.22 and 0.23 when it was fed on A. pistaciae and A. gossypii Glover, respectively. In comparison, the lowest r_m values (0.12 and 0.13) were found in E. nigripennis on the CPP and cotton aphid diets, respectively. Exochomus nigripennis consumed the largest number of psyllid nymphs during larval period, while the adults consumed the lowest number of psyllid nymphs daily. Although eight psyllophagous coccinellid species were collected in colonies of the CPP on pistachio trees, they did not regulate psyllid numbers below damaging levels. At present, conservation should assume a central role in biological control strategies for this pest.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): M. Reza Mehrnejad, M. Amin Jalali

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Agonoscena pistaciae	Pistachio nut and relatives (Pistacia)	Iran
Adalia bipunctata (predator)			Iran
Hippodamia variegata (predator)	Agonoscena pistaciae		Iran
Coccinella undecimpunctata (predator)	Agonoscena pistaciae		Iran
Oenopia conglobata (predator)			Iran