Natural enemies and seasonal abundance of the blackmargined aphid (Monellia caryella) in pecan orchards in Israel

The blackmargined aphid,Monellia caryella (Fitch), exhibited a seasonal pattern with early and late peaks of the population in pecan orchards at Newe Ya’ar in the Yizre’el Valley. A similar pattern was not observed at Kibbutz Sede Eliyyahu in the Bet She’an Valley, where there was a single peak, late in the season. The occurrence of natural enemies indicated that spiders and lacewing eggs were the predators most commonly associated with population fluctuations of the aphid. In most cases the rate of increase of the blackmargined aphid was highest late in the season.     

Comparative biology of Mallada desjardinsi (navas) and Chrysoperla congrua (walker) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), predators of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and aphis gossypii (glover) (Homoptera: Aphididae) on cotton in eastern Tanzania

The developmental biology of Mallada desjardinsi (Navas) and Chrysoperla congrua (Walker) on the American bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera and the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii was studied in the laboratory at 28–32°C. Total larva! periods of M. desjardinsi and C. congrua on H. armigera eggs were 14.4 and 14.8 days respectively. However, when reared on A. gossypii larval periods of M. desjardinsi and C. congrua were 14.9 and 13.5 days respectively. When reared on H. armigera 52.9% and 25% respectively of third instars of M. desjardinsis and C. congrua sp. died before pupation. However, when reared on A. gossypii 82.6% and 46.9% respectively of third instars of M. desjardinsi and C. congrua died before pupation. Thus, H. armigera eggs and A. gossypii nymphs were both adequate but not optimal diets for chrysopid larval development. The number of prey consumed by M. desjardinsi and C. congrua increased with instar. Total larval consumption of H. armigera by M. desjardinsi and C. congrua was determined to be 135.5 and 169.8 eggs respectively. However, total larval consumption of A. gossypii by M. desjardinsi and C. congrua was found to be 189.0 and 171.8 nymphs respectively. Because of its longer larval period, and higher consumption of A. gossypii, M. desjardinsi would be better suited for use against A. gossypii than C. congrua. In contrast, C. congrua whose consumption of H. armigera was higher than that of M. desjardinsi although their larval periods were similar, would appear promising for control of H. armigera.     

草蛉滞育的研究进展

草蛉是多种农林害虫的重要捕食性天敌昆虫,在生物防治中具有重要作用。滞育是昆虫应对不利环境条件时,生长发育停滞的一种生理状态,许多草蛉种类存在滞育现象。深入开展草蛉滞育的研究,不仅有助于明确其滞育特征和内在调控机制,也有助于提高草蛉的生物防治效果,促进草蛉的商业化生产和应用。本文归纳总结了1910年以来国内外草蛉科种类的滞育研究文献,介绍了目前已开展滞育研究的草蛉种类及其滞育特征,分析了影响草蛉滞育调控的环境因子,论述了草蛉滞育期间的形态和生理生化变化、分子机制及其滞育后发育生物学,并就滞育在草蛉规模化生产中的应用以及目前草蛉滞育研究中存在的问题进行了讨论,以期为深入草蛉滞育的基础理论研究和促进草蛉的规模化生产应用等提供参考依据。