BioControl (2018) 63, 543-553

Ivana Lemos Souza, Rosangela Cristina Marucci, Luis Claudio Paterno Silveira, Nágila Cristina Paixão de Paulo and Jana C. Lee (2018)
Effects of marigold on the behavior, survival and nutrient reserves of Aphidius platensis
BioControl 63 (4), 543-553
Abstract: Marigolds (Tagetes erecta L.) suppress nematodes and are attractive companion plants, but their role in biological control is unknown. We evaluated how exposure to marigold blooms impacts the aphid parasitoid, Aphidius platensis Brethes. Female wasps previously exposed to marigold spent more time walking and parasitizing Myzus persicae Sulzer or Schizaphis graminum Rodani aphids, and subsequently had higher parasitism rates. Meanwhile, completely starved wasps spent more time stationary and marginally more time grooming. Time spent probing, emergence rate, and sex ratio were not affected. Wasp survival was best on honey, followed by marigold, and lowest on non-blooming marigolds. Nutrient reserves of wasps given honey, aphid-infested marigold, or marigold alone were compared to newly-emerged unfed wasps. Their resulting lipid, glycogen and sugar levels were similar, suggesting that these foods helped wasps maintain reserves similar to emergence levels. These results suggest that marigold may improve biological control of aphids by A. platensis.
(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): Ivana Lemos Souza, Rosangela Cristina Marucci, Jana C. Lee, Luís Cláudio Paterno Silveira

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Myzus persicae
	Schizaphis graminum
Aphidius platensis (parasitoid)	Myzus persicae
Aphidius platensis (parasitoid)	Schizaphis graminum