Pest Management Science (2021) 77, 2690-2696

Rob Moerkens, Sten Boonen, Felix L. Wäckers and Apostolos Pekas (2021)
Aphidophagous hoverflies reduce foxglove aphid infestations and improve seed set and fruit yield in sweet pepper
Pest Management Science 77 (6), 2690-2696
Abstract:
BACKGROUND
Larvae of many hoverfly species prey upon aphids, whereas the adults, by relying on nectar and pollen, contribute to the pollination of many plant species. Despite their great potential for pest control and pollination, important gaps still exist regarding the efficacy of hoverflies in regulating infestations of major aphid pests in augmentative biological control programs. Here, we tested the potential of the commercially available hoverflies Eupeodes corollae and Sphaerophoria rueppellii to regulate populations of the foxglove aphid Aulacorthum solani in sweet pepper.
RESULTS
In a semi-field experiment, aphid numbers were 93.2% and 78.4% lower in the E. corollae and S. rueppellii treatments, respectively, compared to the control. Fruit yield was increased by 390% and 361% and seed set by 395% and 399% for E. corollae and S. rueppellii. In a separate laboratory trial, we found that under conditions of limited prey, hoverfly larvae did not complete development, but that larvae of S. rueppellii survived significantly longer than larvae of E. corollae.
CONCLUSION
We have shown for the first time that E. corollae and S. rueppellii can reduce infestations of foxglove aphid in sweet pepper. The limited amount of prey, related to the small size of the A. solani colonies, means that hoverfly larvae were often not able to complete development. In practice, repeated releases of hoverflies, possibly in combination with other natural enemies, might be used to achieve effective suppression of A. solani infestations.
(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): Felix L. Wäckers

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aulacorthum solani	Green pepper/chilli (Capsicum)	Belgium
Eupeodes corollae (predator)	Aulacorthum solani	Green pepper/chilli (Capsicum)	Belgium
Sphaerophoria rueppellii (predator)	Aulacorthum solani	Green pepper/chilli (Capsicum)	Belgium