European Journal of Entomology (2004) 101, 473-479

A. Langer, G. Boivin and T. Hance (2004)
Oviposition, flight and walking capacity at low temperatures of four aphid parasitoid species (Hymenoptera: Aphidiinae)
European Journal of Entomology 101 (3), 473-479
Abstract: Precocious activity of parasitoids is a key factor for cereal aphid control. We investigated the oviposition, flight and walking capacities at low temperature of four aphid parasitoids (Aphidius rhopalosiphi, A. ervi, Praon volucre, P. gallicum) on one of their aphid hosts (Sitobion avenae). Oviposition behaviour was tested at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15 and 20°C, under a photoperiod of 12 h light. Some females of A. rhopalosiphi oviposited at 6°C while the percentage of parasitization below 10°C remained low for the other species. The proportion of males decreased with temperature for A. ervi, P. volucre and P. gallicum but not for A. rhopalosiphi. For all species, flight and walking activities increased with temperature, Aphidius species being active at lower temperature than Praon species. Field captures showed that the activity threshold for A. rhopalosiphi is 12°C, 15°C for A. ervi and P. volucre, and 19.5°C for P. gallicum. These results are discussed regarding the potential of these four species for aphid control.
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Database assignments for author(s): Thierry Hance, Guy Boivin

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Sitobion avenae
Aphidius rhopalosiphi (parasitoid)	Sitobion avenae
Aphidius ervi (parasitoid)	Sitobion avenae
Praon volucre (parasitoid)	Sitobion avenae
Praon gallicum (parasitoid)	Sitobion avenae