Phytoparasitica (1997) 25, p. 161 (Coll et al.)
M. Coll and E. Nevo (1997)
Effects of host plants and predators on the populations of the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii
Phytoparasitica 25 (2), 161-161
10th Conference of the Entomological Society of Israel, February 11, 1997, Bet Dagan, Israel, poster
Abstract: The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, is a key pest in cotton in many regions of the world and it consistently appears in cotton fields in Israel. In Israel there is large variability in infestation levels between years, regions and even fields. High infestation levels late in the season reduce yields and lint quality. Because it is difficult to predict the conditions under which aphid populations erupt and cause damage, it is likely that unnecessary spraying is performed against populations that would not have caused damage. In spite of the economic importance of this pest, it is unclear what are the major factors affecting its density in the field. To quantify the effect of cotton plants and coccinellid predators on aphid populations, both field and laboratory experiments were conducted. The effects of cotton variety and leaf age on colony establishment, and on aphid reproduction and population growth were studied. Also, the effect of previous aphid infestation on the ability of new aphid colonies to become established on the same plant were tested. The ability of an aphidophagous ladybird beetle (Coccinella undecimpunctata L.) to suppress the population growth of cotton aphids was studied in field cages. Finally, the spatial distribution of coccinellid predators in the field was correlated with that of their aphid prey.
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
environment - cropping system/rotation
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
Pest and/or beneficial records:
| Beneficial | Pest/Disease/Weed | Crop/Product | Country | Quarant.
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aphis gossypii | Cotton (Gossypium) | Israel | ||
| Coccinella undecimpunctata (predator) | Aphis gossypii | Cotton (Gossypium) | Israel |
