Journal of Pest Science (2006) 79, 95-102
Nicolas Desneux, Jean-Michel Rabasse, Yannick Ballanger and Laure Kaiser (2006)
Parasitism of canola aphids in France in autumn
Journal of Pest Science 79 (2), 95-102
Abstract: In light of a recent increase in the aphid populations on young canola (Brassica napus) in autumn in Northwestern Europe, we carried out a survey of their parasitoid species during this season. The study was done in France from 1998 to 2001 using different sampling methods. Results highlighted the presence of two main species of Aphidiinae, Aphidius matricariae and Diaeretiella rapae (and to a lesser extent Aphidius ervi) on Myzus persicae, and of D. rapae on Brevicoryne brassicae. Nine other Aphidiinae species were found occasionally as well as some Aphelinidae parasitoids and hyperparasitoids. There was no difference in parasitoid species pattern between fields in Northern and Southern France. The principal parasitoid species found in the fields were reared in the laboratory to confirm their ability to develop on the canola aphids. Aphidius matricariae and D. rapae were reared successfully on M. persicae, but a low parasitism rate was obtained for A. ervi on this aphid. This study showed that A. matricariae and D. rapae could develop on aphids on canola and that they are present naturally in canola in autumn. However, the parasitism rate is low in autumn, so the options could be the use of these parasitoids in augmentative release biological control programs or in an IPM project on canola fields during this time of the year.
(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): Nicolas Desneux
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation
