Evaluation of the aphid and aphidophagous beneficials diversity in a pea and potato association
2014
Bosquée, Emilie | Chevalier Mendes Lopes, Thomas | Serteyn, Laurent | Chen, Julian | Yong, Liu | Francis, Frédéric
Crop associations can have beneficial effects on the control of insect pests. This study was conducted in the Shandong province (China) to assess the impact of potatoes and peas association on the populations of aphids and aphidophagous beneficials. Observations on potato plants and trapping were performed. During the season, the degree of infestation didn’t differ significantly between the association and the pure stand. However, the aphidophagous beneficials were more abundant in the association comparing to the pure stand. Trapping results give a more general idea about the richness and diversity of natural enemies present in the environment. Aphidius gifuensis (Ashmead) and Aphelinus abdominalis Dalman are the most abundant parasitoids. Among predators, Propylea japonica (Thunberg) and Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) are prevalent. Few hoverflies and lacewings were trapped. Results from the observations on plants do not support the resource concentration hypothesis. However, the enemy hypothesis was confirmed for the aphidophagous beneficials. Therefore, this association can have a beneficial effect on the control of aphid populations.
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