Environmental Entomology (1985) 14, 597-601
Rami Kfir, F. Kirsten and N.J. Van Rensburg (1985)
Pauesia sp. (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae): A parasite introduced into South Africa for biological control of the black pine aphid, Cinara cronartii (Homoptera: Aphididae)
Environmental Entomology 14 (5), 597-601
Abstract: Pauesia sp., a parasite of the black pine aphid, Cinara cronartii Tissot and Pepper, which is indigenous in pines in the United States, was collected from aphids in the United States and released in aphid-infested pine plantations in South Africa during the winter of 1983. By spring the parasite had dispersed up to 15 km from a release site in a commercial plantation near Barberton. Seven weeks after release in a small plantation at Buffelspoort, parasitized aphids had spread throughout the plantation (1 ha). For the remainder of the aphid season, mummies continued to be seen in every part of the plot, were present in most aphid colonies, and every sample of live aphids contained some parasites. Later, the aphid population collapsed, and Pauesia sp. could have been the cause. A few parasitized aphids were found in the following autumn among the rare oversummering aphids, indicating that Pauesia sp. have survived the summer and become established in South Africa. Five coccinellids, two syrphids, and four ant species were associated with the aphid especially in young stands.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Rami Kfir
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation
