Release of two Aphelinus species (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) as biological control agents of Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Homoptera: Aphididae) on tomato in greenhouses
2004
Tatsumi, E. (Kyoto Prefectural Univ. (Japan)) | Takada, H.
A release survey was carried out to examine the potentials of Aphelinus asychis and A. albipodus as biological control agents against Macrosiphum euphorbiae in greenhouses. We applied these two parasitoids in 3 small vinyl houses (A-H, B-H and C-H) each with 12 M euphorbia infesting tomato plants at Kyoto in the fell of 2002 and the spring of 2003. In A-H a large number of female adults were released, in B-H six kinds of banker plants were placed, and in C-H a small number of female adults were released as a control. The abundance of M. euphorbiae, percentage of parasitism by Aphelinus species and relative abundance of aphid parasitoids in the houses were investigated periodically. These Aphelinus species established themselves on all the plants. They could not control aphid population density at low levels, but the aphid population density was generally lower and the percentage of parasitism was higher in A-H and B-H man in C-H. From these results, we concluded that the two Aphelinus species could suppress the M. euphorbiae population to some degree. We discussed the release timing and rate of parasitoids for more effective control and the role of banker plants.
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