Aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) on citrus: Seasonal abundance, association with the species of host plant, and sampling indices

Samples were collected from southern Greece during 1996–2000 in order to investigate the presence of parasitoids onAphis gossypii Glover infesting several citrus species. The species of aphidiines found to have a significantly different preference forA. gossypii wereAphidius colemani Viereck,Aphidius matricariae Haliday,Diaeretiella rapae (M’Intosh),Ephedrus persicae Froggat,Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson),Binodoxys acalephae (Marshall) andBinodoxys angelicae (Haliday). In another sampling experiment, the relative abundance of aphidiine parasitoids on aphids infesting orange and tangerine trees was studied in southern Greece (Nea Kios) in 1996 and 1997.A. gossypii constituted the largest part of the aphid population and was the only species parasitized.B. angelicae andA. colemani were the most abundant parasitoid species. The parasitization rate differed among the parasitoid species.B. angelicae had the highest colonization rate in centrally located and large host (A. gossypii) groups, whereasA. colemani was found in more isolated and relatively small host groups. The percentage of parasitism byB. angelicae was high mainly in large host groups, whenB. angelicae was the only parasitoid present. However, in cases of coexistence ofB. angelicae withA. colemani with hyperparasitoids, in the same sampling unit, the percentage of parasitism was relatively low. http://www.phytoparasitica.org     

Aphidius colemani Vier. (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) detected in cereal fields in Germany

Studies conducted in the 2000 cropping season at two different localities, Flaeming and Magdeburger Boerde in Germany, have provided new information on cereal aphid (Sitobion avenae (F.), Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker), and Rhopalosiphum padi (L.)) parasitoids in winter wheat; their species composition, relative abundance, hosts, and location effects. The average aphid population density was higher at Magdeburger Boerde and lower at Flaeming. Among the aphid species, Sitobion avenae was more abundant at Flaeming and Metopolophium dirhodum at Magdeburger Boerde. In total, eight species of primary parasitoids were recorded: Aphidius colemani Viereck, Aphidius rhopalosiphi DeStefani Perez, Aphidius uzbekistanicus Luzhetzki, Aphidius ervi Haliday, Aphidius picipes (Nees), Ephedrus plagiator (Nees), Praon gallicumStarý, and Praon volucre (Haliday). The predominant parasitoid species were Aphidius colemani and Aphidius rhopalosiphi on Metopolophium dirhodum and Aphidius uzbekistanicus on Sitobion avenae. A low number of hyperparasitoids were also recorded. Aphidius colemani was recorded for the first time in the open winter wheat fields in Germany, although it has been used as a biocontrol agent in glasshouses in many European countries and overseas. An analysis of the aforementioned information shows that Aphidius colemani detected as a parasitoid of cereal aphids in Germany is likely a result of an accidental escape of parasitoids from a glasshouse, as well as their successful overwintering and establishment in the area. This study provides baseline information essential for assessing future changes in aphid parasitoid species guild and dynamics in cereal fields in Germany.     

Aphidius colemani Vier. (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) detected in cereal fields in Germany

Studies conducted in the 2000 cropping season at two different localities, Flaeming and Magdeburger Boerde in Germany, have provided new information on cereal aphid (Sitobion avenae (F.), Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker), and Rhopalosiphum padi (L.)) parasitoids in winter wheat; their species composition, relative abundance, hosts, and location effects. The average aphid population density was higher at Magdeburger Boerde and lower at Flaeming. Among the aphid species, Sitobion avenae was more abundant at Flaeming and Metopolophium dirhodum at Magdeburger Boerde. In total, eight species of primary parasitoids were recorded: Aphidius colemani Viereck, Aphidius rhopalosiphi DeStefani Perez, Aphidius uzbekistanicus Luzhetzki, Aphidius ervi Haliday, Aphidius picipes (Nees), Ephedrus plagiator (Nees), Praon gallicumStarý, and Praon volucre (Haliday). The predominant parasitoid species were Aphidius colemani and Aphidius rhopalosiphi on Metopolophium dirhodum and Aphidius uzbekistanicus on Sitobion avenae. A low number of hyperparasitoids were also recorded. Aphidius colemani was recorded for the first time in the open winter wheat fields in Germany, although it has been used as a biocontrol agent in glasshouses in many European countries and overseas. An analysis of the aforementioned information shows that Aphidius colemani detected as a parasitoid of cereal aphids in Germany is likely a result of an accidental escape of parasitoids from a glasshouse, as well as their successful overwintering and establishment in the area. This study provides baseline information essential for assessing future changes in aphid parasitoid species guild and dynamics in cereal fields in Germany.     

Parasitoid community of the loreyi leaf wormMythimna (Acantholeucania) loreyi: Novel host-parasitoid associations and their efficiency in the eastern mediterranean region of Turkey

The loreyi leaf worm,Mythimna (Acantholeucania) loreyi Duponchel (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), is a pest of gramineous crops and causes significant economic damage to maize. In field surveys on maize to determine the parasitoid community and its impact on the pest in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey, nine parasitoid species were found associated with immature stages ofM. loreyi: The hymenopteran (Braconidae and Ichneumonidae) parasitoidsCotesia (=Apanteles) ruficrus (Haliday),Chelonus oculator Panzer,Meteorus ictericus Nees,Hyposoter didymator (Thunberg),Sinophorus sp.; and the dipteran (Tachinidae) parasitoidsPseudogonia rufifrons Wiedeman,Exorista rossica Mesnil,Gonia picea (Robineau-Desvoidy) andLinnaemya vulpina (Fallen) — the last three recorded for the first time as parasitoids ofM. loreyi in Turkey.C. ruficrus was the dominant parasitoid species, being recovered from 38.5% of the larvae collected and was also the most prevalent species, existing in 91.0% of the fields in whichM. loreyi was found. Total parasitism levels achieved by braconid species was 41.4%, by ichneumonid parasitoids 4.8%, and by tachinid parasitoids 1.9%. In a separate field experiment, seasonal population fluctuations and natural efficiency ofC. ruficrus onM. loreyi were found to be 35.1% and 42.4%, respectively. Population levels ofC. ruficrus were closely related to fluctuations in the population ofM. loreyi, with parasitism ranging between 0 and 77.3% during the study. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Aug. 28, 2005.     

Toxicity of neem to natural enemies of aphids

Neem [Azadirachta indica (A. Juss.)] seed oil (NSO) applied in three concentrations, 0.5%, 1% and 2%, to potted plants infested with green peach aphid,Myzus persicae (Sulzer), totally prevented adult eclosion of larval coccinellids,Coccinella undecimpunctata L., and reduced adult eclosion of syrphids,Eupeodes fumipennis (Thompson), to 11%, 7% and 0%, respectively, of the controls. Under the same conditions, NSO did not reduce the rate of parasitism ofM. persicae byDiaeretiella rapae (Mcintosh), but emergence of parasitoid adults from aphid mummies collected from treated plants was reduced to 35%, 24% and 0%, respectively, of the controls. Although topical treatment of predator larvae with NSO at concentrations of up to 5% did not affect survival, emergence of parasitoids from mummies dipped in aqueous emulsions of NSO at similar rates was reduced significantly. Under field conditions, sprays of NSO and neem seed extract to plants had no significant impact on the number of aphids parasitized. Although total numbers of predators were reduced, numbers of predators relative to aphid numbers were similar to those in controls. Neem insecticides may be suitable for use in integrated pest management programs, as under field use they appear to be relatively benign to aphid predators and parasitoids.     

Effect of a UV-deficient environment on the biology and flight activity of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Myzus persicae</Emphasis> and its hymenopterous parasite<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphidius matricariae</Emphasis>

Laboratory and field experiments were conducted to study the effect of UV filtration on the population growth, distribution and flight activity of the green peach aphidMyzus persicae (Sulzer) (Homoptera: Aphididae), and on the fecundity and host-finding behavior of the parasitic waspAphidius matricariae (Haliday) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). The work was done in the Arava Valley of Israel, in walk-in tunnels covered with polyethylene film, to compare the effects of UV-absorbing filmversus those of regular film. Following artificial aphid infestation on pepper grown under the tested films, aphid population growth and spread under the UV-absorbing films were significantly less than under the regular films. The greatest impact of UV-absorbing film on aphid behavior was observed in winter and early spring, when temperature conditions favor aphid development. Elimination of UV by UV-absorbing film did not affect the parasitic activity ofA. matricariae. Previous results had indicated that covering the greenhouse with UV-absorbing films inhibited the invasion of aphids and other insect pests into it. That effect, in combination with those described in the present paper, makes the use of UV-absorbing films an effective component of IPM that aims to reduce the application of toxic insecticides. Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, No. 524/2002. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Oct. 13, 2003.     

Activation of defence in sweet pepper, Capsicum annum, by cis-jasmone, and its impact on aphid and aphid parasitoid behaviour

BACKGROUND: Two important pests of the sweet pepper, Capsicum annuum, are the peach potato aphid, Myzus persicae, and the glasshouse potato aphid, Aulacorthum solani. Current aphid control measures include the use of biological control agents, i.e. parasitic wasps, but with varying levels of success. One option to increase parasitoid efficiency is to activate plant defence. Therefore, sweet pepper plants were treated with the naturally occurring plant defence activator cis-jasmone, and its impact upon the behaviour and development of aphids and aphid parasitoids was investigated. RESULTS: Growth rate studies revealed that the intrinsic rate of population increase of A. solani and M. persicae on sweet pepper plants treated with cis-jasmone (cJSP) was not affected compared with untreated plants (UnSP), but the positive behavioural response of alate M. persicae towards the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from UnSP was eliminated by cis-jasmone treatment 48 h previously (cJSP48). In addition, the aphid parasitoid Aphidius ervi preferred VOCs from cJSP48 compared with UnSP, and a significant increase in foraging time was also observed on cJSP. Analysis of VOCs collected from cJSP48 revealed differences compared with UnSP. CONCLUSION: There is evidence that treatment with cis-jasmone has the potential to improve protection of sweet pepper against insect pests. © Crown copyright 2012. Reproduced with permission of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Presence of less-preferred hosts of the aphid parasitoids <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphidius ervi</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Praon volucre</Emphasis> reduces parasitism efficiency

Parasitoids are characterized by a defined range of hosts, either more specialist or generalist. Under natural conditions, females may encounter different host species on the same plant or in the same location. In this case, their preference for one host could influence their choice. However, the presence of less suitable hosts may also affect their choice and, in some cases, may reduce their interest in a patch where both preferred and less preferred hosts are available. The aim of the present study was to test the consequences of the simultaneous presence of three cereal aphids (Sitobion avenae Fabricius, Metopolophium dirhodum Walker, and Rhopalosiphum padi Linnaeus) on the parasitism by two of their parasitoids, Aphidius ervi Haliday and Praon volucre Haliday. Firstly, in the no-choice experiment, A. ervi parasitized on S. avenae at a significantly higher rate as compared to M. dirhodum, whereas no parasitism on R. padi was observed. P. volucre parasitized the three species of cereal aphids with a significant preference for S. avenae. Interestingly, when two or three host species were offered simultaneously in the same quantity to pairs of parasitoids, the level of parasitism was less than that observed for one host species alone. This observation exhibits a distractive effect on non-host species, from the defense mechanism of a non-suitable host or from the perception of bad quality patches. These results raise the question of the practical application of inundative release of parasitoids for biocontrol when several hosts are available simultaneously.     

释放异色瓢虫对北京温室甜椒和圆茄上桃蚜的控害效果

为评价异色瓢虫在温室条件下对桃蚜的控害能力及效益,在甜椒和圆茄生产温室中以生物农药防治为对照,开展释放异色瓢虫控制桃蚜的示范试验,分析天敌害虫的种群动态变化,并计算防治成本。结果显示:异色瓢虫能够持续控制甜椒温室中桃蚜种群密度,其定殖率在蚜虫暴发高峰期时最高,为64%;且甜椒产量及经济效益高于生物农药防治。在圆茄温室中,前期释放的异色瓢虫使桃蚜高峰延缓1周出现;在增加瓢虫释放量后,1周内桃蚜种群密度下降了79%,且瓢虫定殖率达到86%,控害效果较好。表明通过生产期全程监测天敌-害虫的种群动态,在植株定植15 d后每周确定益害比,通过2~3个月持续释放异色瓢虫,可有效、持续控制整个生产期桃蚜为害。     

Parasitoids of European species of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Yponomeuta</Emphasis> Latreille 1796 (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae): new findings with an updated checklist

The species of the genus Yponomeuta Latreille (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) are known as ermine moths and can be found on various host plant species, sometimes appearing as pests. They are attacked by a wide range of parasitoids. We studied parasitoid complexes of several communities in Austria, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia and Sweden during 2014–2018. From four species, Yponomeuta cagnagella (Hübner), Yponomeuta evonymella (Linnaeus), Yponomeuta malinellus Zeller and Yponomeuta padella (Linnaeus), we reared 15 parasitoid species of seven hymenopteran and one dipteran family. In this study, the family Ichneumonidae is the most numerous, while Ageniaspis fuscicollis (Dalman) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) was found in all four Yponomeuta species. Within reared parasitoids, A. fuscicollis is new record for Slovenia and Austria, Baryscapus evonymellae (Bouché) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Diadegma armillatum (Gravenhorst) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) are new records for Slovenia and Agrypon canaliculatum (Ratzeburg) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Dolichogenidea dilecta (Haliday) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Elasmus steffani Viggiani (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), Herpestomus brunnicornis (Gravenhorst) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Trieces tricarinatus (Holmgren) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) and Mesochorus nuncupator (Panzer) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) are new records for Serbia. Also, Yponomeuta cagnagella is a new host record for Pteromalus semotus (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) and Y. padella for E. steffani. Finally, we reviewed parasitoids of European Yponomeuta species and their associated host plants. In total 154 species are recorded from nine hymenopteran and one dipteran family.     

Insecticide resistance profiles can be misleading in predicting the survival of Myzus persicae genotypes on potato crops following the application of different insecticide classes

BACKGROUND: The accuracy of predicting the survival of insecticide‐resistant aphids following the application of commonly used insecticides from the carbamate, the pyrethroid, a mix of the two or the neonicotinoid chemical classes was evaluated in a potato field in Scotland. Equal proportions of five genotypes of the peach‐potato aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), with none, resistance to dimethyl‐carbamates, resistance to pyrethroids or combinations conferring resistance to both chemical classes were released into potato field plots. The insecticides were sprayed separately onto these plots, the aphid populations were analysed after 6–8 days and the process repeated. RESULTS: For each assessment after the three separate spray events, plots treated with the carbamate had 48, 147 and 28%, those treated with pyrethroid 53, 210 and 89%, those treated with carbamate/pyrethroid 28, 108 and 64% and those treated with neonicotinoid 43, 55 and 11% of the numbers of M. persicae by comparison with untreated controls. Only the proportions of surviving aphids from the genotype containing no insecticide resistance traits and the genotype containing elevated carboxylesterases matched ratios predicted from the selective advantage afforded by the resistance traits alone. Survival of aphids from the other three genotypes that carried 1–3 of the insecticide resistance traits differed from expectations in all cases, possibly owing to physiological differences, including their vulnerability to predators and hymenopterous parasitoids present at the site and/or their carrying unknown insecticide resistance mechanisms. CONCLUSION: Control strategies based on knowledge of the genetically determined insecticide resistance profile of an M. persicae population alone are insufficient. Hence, other important factors contributing to aphid survival under insecticide pressure need to be considered. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Fortuitous parasitoids of the invasive tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta in Tunisia

The South American tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a major threat to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) crops. After its first detection in Spain in 2006, it spread rapidly through the Western Palaearctic region, arriving in Tunisia 2 years later. The aim of this research was to assess whether generalist indigenous parasitoids are adapting to this exotic host in Tunisian tomato crops. For this, we conducted a survey in four Tunisian tomato-growing areas by sampling infested leaves of tomato and solanaceous weeds and exposing artificially infested sentinel plants. Two ectoparasitoid species were found attacking and developing on T. absoluta: Bracon sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Necremnus sp. nr artynes (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), whereas no egg or pupal parasitoids were found. The eulophid wasp was the most abundant with a peak of apparent parasitism rate of 25.5%. It emerged from parasitized T. absoluta young larvae in exposed sentinel plants and in sampled infested tomato leaves, both in greenhouse and open field cultivations. Bracon sp. showed a gregarious development on T. absoluta mature larvae and it was collected only on sentinel plants exposed in the Ragueda (Kiarouan) site, with 10.23% of estimated parasitism. Although further research is still needed to assess properly the ecological role of these parasitoids in the biological control of T. absoluta, this study represents the first step toward establishing the scientific basis for including these parasitoids in the Tunisian IPM and biological programs against this pest.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dittrichia viscosa</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rubus ulmifolius</Emphasis> as reservoirs of aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) and the role of certain Coccinellid species

The role of the self-sown shrubsDittrichia viscosa (L.) W. Greuter andRubus ulmifolius Schott as reservoirs of aphid parasitoids was investigated. In the field studies conducted,D. viscosa grew adjacent to crops of durum wheat and barley andR. ulmifolius grew adjacent to cotton. The relative abundance of the parasitoids of(a) Capitophorus inulae (Passerini) onD. viscosa, (b) Rhopalosiphum padi (Linnaeus) on durum wheat and barley,(c) Aphis ruborum (Börner) onR. ulmifolius, and(d) Aphis gossypii Glover on cotton in various parts of Greece, was assessed during the years 1996–2000. In 2000, the fluctuation of parasitization of the above four aphid species was recorded and the action of the aphidophagous predators of the family Coccinellidae was studied. It was observed thatAphidius matricariae Haliday predominated onC. inulae andR. padi in all sampling cases. In contrast,Lysiphlebus fabarum (Marshall) was the dominant species parasitizingA. ruborum onR. ulmifolius andA. gossypii on cotton in Thessaly (central Greece) and Macedonia (northern Greece), whereasLysiphlebus confusus Tremblay et Eady andBinodoxys acalephae (Marshall) were the dominant parasitoid species in Thrace (northern Greece).Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus was the most abundant coccinellid species on durum wheat, whereasAdonia variegata (Goeze) predominated on cotton. However, coccinellid individuals were scarce on bothD. viscosa andR. ulmifolius. The present study indicated that these two shrubs can be regarded as useful reservoirs of aphid parasitoids.     

感染马铃薯Y病毒烟株对烟蚜取食行为及烟蚜茧蜂适应性的影响

为探明烟蚜茧蜂Aphidius gifuensis Ashmead对烟蚜Myzus persicae(Sulzer)取食感染马铃薯Y病毒(Potato virus Y,PVY)烟株的适应性,利用刺探电位图谱(EPG)技术记录了烟蚜在感病烟株与健康烟株上的取食行为,并测定了烟蚜茧蜂对取食2种烟株烟蚜的寄生率以及烟蚜茧蜂的羽化率、发育时间及性比等指标。结果表明,与健康烟株相比,烟蚜在感染PVY烟株上的第1次刺探取食持续时间显著延长,且口针遇到阻力的次数(F波)和总持续时间均显著减少。烟蚜在感病烟株木质部的吸食时间(G波)显著长于健康烟株。感病烟株上烟蚜在韧皮部阶段的分泌唾液时间(E1波)较在健康烟株上显著缩短,而被动吸食汁液时间(E2波)显著延长。烟蚜茧蜂寄生取食感染PVY烟株的烟蚜,虽然能成功完成其生活史,但适应性与寄生取食健康烟株烟蚜的蚜茧蜂存在差异。在感染PVY烟株上,烟蚜茧蜂对烟蚜的寄生率为33.67%,显著低于对照的64.67%;且僵蚜体重明显下降,羽化的成蜂个体较小;成蜂存活时间1.48 d也极显著短于对照组的2.25 d。表明烟蚜茧蜂对取食感染PVY烟株烟蚜的适应性较低,PVY可通过烟蚜为介体间接降低烟蚜茧蜂的适应力。     

Diversity of stem borer parasitoids and their associated wild host plants in South Africa and Mozambique

The diversity of lepidopterous stem borers, their parasitoids and their associated wild host plants was studied in South Africa between 2006 and 2009 and in Mozambique between 2005 and 2010. In South Africa, 20 species of parasitoids were recovered from 17 stem borer species collected on 16 wild host plant species. From Mozambique, 14 parasitoid species were recorded from 16 stem borer species collected on 14 wild host plant species. The highest diversity of parasitoids was recorded on stem borers that attacked the host plants Phragmites australis (7 spp.) and Panicum maximum (6 spp.), in South Africa and Mozambique, respectively. Bracon sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Procerochasmias nigromaculatus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) were the most recorded parasitoid species in South Africa while Cotesia sesamiae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitized most stem borer species in Mozambique. The most common tachinid parasitoid recorded in this study was Sturmiopsis parasitica (Diptera: Tachinidae). Parasitism of stem borers during the off season was previously thought to occur mainly in natural habitats but this study shows that although natural habitats provided refuges for some parasitoid species, stem borer parasitism was generally low in wild host plants, irrespective of whether collections were done during the cropping or off-season. Parasitoid beta diversity did not depend on habitat or host plant species, but was determined by stem borer diversity.     

宁夏麦蚜天敌多样性及种间关系

麦蚜是宁夏小麦的主要害虫,为了实现自然天敌对麦蚜的有效控制,采用网捕法和陷阱法等采集手段,通过3年田间调查,共鉴定麦蚜天敌97种,包括寄生性天敌16种和捕食性天敌81种。将麦蚜天敌划分为单食性天敌、寡食性天敌、多食性天敌及杂食性天敌共4类功能团进行分析,结果表明,不同天敌功能团对麦蚜种群的影响存在显著的交互作用;寄生性天敌中蚜茧蜂属的燕麦蚜茧蜂与烟蚜茧蜂是优势种;捕食性天敌种类较为复杂,不同地区麦蚜天敌组成存在显著性差异,复杂的农业景观能够维持更高的天敌多样性。表明在农业生态系统中建立和恢复非作物生境能够明显提高天敌种群数量,进而提高其生物防治作用。     

Combined effect of nucleopolyhedrovirus and Microplitis pallidipes for the control of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua

BACKGROUND: Nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeNPV) and Microplitis pallidipes are important biological control agents of Spodoptera exigua populations. The interactions between these agents and their combined effect on pest control were investigated in the laboratory and in commercial greenhouses. RESULTS: Microplitis pallidipes searched for and deposited eggs in more healthy larvae than virus‐infected larvae 3 days after viral infection. Each female parasitoid that developed in a virus‐infected host oviposited in a virus‐infected host, or emerged from a cocoon carrying virus transmitted to 4.0, 7.6 or 2.4 healthy larvae respectively. Each female parasitoid exposed to a mixture of virus and 10% honey water solution transmitted the virus to 2.2 healthy larvae. In an experiment with cabbage growing in commercial greenhouses, the pest population reduction was greater by M. pallidipes carrying SeNPV (82.3–89.7% reduction) than by parasitoids without virus (59.5–62.4% reduction). CONCLUSIONS: Control of S. exigua was greater with M. pallidipes plus SeNPV than with M. pallidipes alone. Microplitis pallidipes preferred healthy hosts to infected hosts. Parasitoids were able to complete their development in virus‐infected hosts before the hosts died from the virus infection. The parasitoid ovipositors contaminated with the virus could carry and transmit SeNPV. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

桃蚜体内次生共生菌沙雷氏菌对宿主抵御寄生蜂和高温胁迫的影响

为明确桃蚜Myzus persicae体内次生共生菌沙雷氏菌Serratia symbiotica对宿主抵抗不良环境的影响,利用叶碟法测定短翅蚜小蜂Aphelinus asychi对自然感染沙雷氏菌桃蚜、自然未感染沙雷氏菌桃蚜和人工感染沙雷氏菌桃蚜的寄生特性和取食特性,并测定烟蚜茧蜂Aphidius gifuensis对这3种处理桃蚜的寄生特性及这3种处理桃蚜经高温胁迫后的生长繁殖特性。结果显示,短翅蚜小蜂在人工感染沙雷氏菌桃蚜上的产卵率比在自然未感染沙雷氏菌桃蚜上的下降近1/2,羽化率下降1/3左右,致死率、取食率、僵蚜率均无显著差异;烟蚜茧蜂对这3种处理桃蚜的致死率、过寄生率、僵蚜率及其产卵率和羽化率等均无显著差异;这3种处理桃蚜的2龄若蚜经高温胁迫后,发育时间和寿命均显著延长,开始产蚜时间明显推迟,繁殖力和日繁殖率显著降低,繁殖历期无明显变化;高温胁迫后,人工感染沙雷氏菌桃蚜比自然未感染沙雷氏菌桃蚜开始产蚜时间提前3.9 d,繁殖力增加7.0头。表明人工感染沙雷氏菌可以提高桃蚜对短翅蚜小蜂和高温胁迫的防御作用,对烟蚜茧蜂的寄生无明显效果。     

Susceptibility of cocooned pupae and adults of the parasitoid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microplitis mediator</Emphasis> to selected insecticides

The braconid parasitoid Microplitis mediator (Haliday) is a key natural enemy of the cabbage moth, Mamestra brassicae (L.), in Europe. In the context of an Integrated Pest Management approach, the use of selective insecticides is essential for the conservation of naturally occurring beneficial arthropods. The present laboratory study investigated the side effects of six insecticides applied at recommended field rates on adults and cocooned pupae of M. mediator. Male and female parasitoids were paired in drum cells contaminated with dry residues of insecticides. Besides lethal effects after 24 h, parasitization capacity and longevity of the surviving parasitoids was evaluated. Lethal effects on cocooned pupae were also investigated by assessing adult emergence from treated cocoons. Pirimicarb caused 100% adult mortality after 24 h, whereas the other tested insecticides caused no direct toxic effects. However, sub-lethal effects in terms of reduced parasitization activity, percentage of parasitism or female longevity were found for flonicamid, pymetrozine, spinosad and thiacloprid. Spirotetramat shortened only male longevity. Adult emergence from treated cocoons was reduced only by flonicamid and pymetrozine.     

New parasitoids of Paraphytomyza populi (Kltb.) (Diptera, Agromyzidae) in Bulgaria

The parasitoid complex of Paraphytomyza populi (Kltb.) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) was studied in Sofia, Bulgaria in 1997. Poplar leaves with P. populi larvae and pupae were collected from poplar stump shoots and examined in a laboratory. As a result, eleven parasitoid species were established: Chorebus albipes (Haliday) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), Pediobius metallicus (Nees), Danuviella subplana Erdos, Chrysocharis nephereus (Walker), Chrysocharis pubicornis (Zetterstedt), Diglyphus crassinervis Erdos, Diglyphus isaea (Walker), Diglyphus albiscapus Erdos, Cirrospilus diallus Walker, Cirrospilus pictus (Nees) (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) and Elasmus sp. (Hymenoptera, Elasmidae). Six species (D. crassinervis, D. isaea, D. albiscapus, C. diallus, C. pictus and Elasmus sp.) have been recorded as new parasitoids of P. populi. The genus Danuviella was found for the first time in Bulgaria. Five species (C. albipes, P. metallicus, D. subplana, D. crassinervis and D. albiscapus) are new records for the fauna of the country. The total mortality of P. populi caused by parasitoids was 19.1% and 49.0% for the overwintering and the summer generations, respectively. P. metallicus was the most important in reducing the pest number.