Journal of Insect Science (2003) 3 (33), 25-26

Koen Van Elsen, Russell H. Messing and Mark G. Wright (2003)
Parasitism of aphids by Endaphis maculans (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in Hawai'i
Journal of Insect Science 3 (33), 25-26
XIII International Entomophagous Insects Workshop - July 27-31, 2003, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A.
Abstract: A large number of adventive aphid species are pests of crops and indigenous plants in Hawai'i. Limited introductions of biological control agents have been made to control aphids in the islands, although great potential exists to introduce new natural enemies, primarily because of the limited potential for non-target impacts as there are no endemic aphids in the Hawai'i archipelago. This paper reports parasitism levels of aphids by Endaphis maculans, a little-known aphid parasitoid. It is not known how this parasitoid was introduced to Hawai'i - it was not introduced purposefully and presumably was translocated accidentally. E. maculans attacks banana aphids (Pentalonia nigronervosa). Parasitism levels in banana plantations were variable, and evidently inadequate to suppress aphid populations in banana. On other plants (e.g. Ti (Cordyline terminalis)), parasitism levels were greater, possibly because of soil properties below the plants. The fly pupae exit the parasitized aphids to pupate in the soil, and it is possible that the dense layers of trashed banana leaves and pseudo-stem trunks in banana plantations make pupation difficult. For this parasitoid to be an effective biological control agent in bananas, it may be necessary to modify cultural practices in the plantations.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Mark G. Wright

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Pentalonia nigronervosa	Banana/plantain (Musa)
Endaphis maculans (predator)	Pentalonia nigronervosa	Banana/plantain (Musa)