European Journal of Entomology (2000) 97, 527-531
A. Levie, P. Dogot and T. Hance (2000)
Release of Aphidius rhopalosiphi (Hymenoptera: Aphidiinae) for cereal aphid control: field cage experiments
European Journal of Entomology 97 (4), 527-531
Abstract: The potential of the parasitoid Aphidius rhopalosiphi for controlling cereal aphids was tested in 16 m2 field cage experiments in 1998 and 1999. In the first year, aphids and parasitoids were released in cages containing naturally occurring populations of aphids and their natural enemies. In the second year, aphids and parasitoids were released in cages which had been cleared of insects by applying insecticide. The growths of the aphid populations in the different cages were analysed and compared. In 1998, the release of 50 pairs of parasitoids per cage had no significant effect on aphid population growth relative to that in the control cages. Even though the aphid population growth rates were less than 60% of that in the control cages, in the cages in which 100 pairs and 200 pairs of parasitoids were released, it was not possible to show they statistically differed. The aphid populations in these three cages were held below 10 aphids per tiller. In 1999, the.aphid density was higher and the population grew faster than in 1998. The release of 100 and 200 parasitoids per cage significantly reduced aphid population growth. A. rhopalosiphi seemed to be a good control agent in field cages, provided they were released at the beginning of aphid population growth.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Thierry Hance
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
inundative/inoculative release
Pest and/or beneficial records:
| Beneficial | Pest/Disease/Weed | Crop/Product | Country | Quarant.
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sitobion avenae | Belgium | |||
| Metopolophium dirhodum | Belgium | |||
| Aphidius rhopalosiphi (parasitoid) | Sitobion avenae | Belgium | ||
| Aphidius rhopalosiphi (parasitoid) | Metopolophium dirhodum | Belgium |
