Reproductive compatibility and genetic variation between two strains of Aphelinus albipodus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), a parasitoid of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines (Homoptera: Aphididae)

Aphelinus albipodus Hayat and Fatima is a potential biological control agent of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura, which is a newly introduced soybean pest in the United States. We compared the reproductive compatibility and molecular genetic variation between two geographic strains of A. albipodus. One strain was collected from soybean aphids in Japan and the other recovered from Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko), in the western U.S., populations of which were established with parasitoids imported from Eurasia. We present results of crossing experiments between the two strains, genetic differences based on RAPD-PCR markers, rDNA ITS1 and ITS2 gene sequences, and presence of Wolbachia in the two strains using PCR amplification of the wsp gene. We found no reduction in the production of females in reciprocal crosses between strains, but a significant reduction in fecundity when F₁ females stemming from one of the reciprocal crosses were backcrossed to males from either source. The two strains differed by 3.4% in the rDNA ITS1 sequence and by presence/absence of one RAPD-PCR marker from a total of 20 RAPD primers screened, but their rDNA ITS2 sequences were identical. We used restriction enzyme analysis to separate the strains by differential digestion of the ITS1 PCR product. Wolbachia was present in 100% of males and females of both strains of A. albipodus.     

Response of resistant and susceptible barley to infestations of five Diuraphis noxia (Homoptera: Aphididae) biotypes

Since 2003, four new biotypes of the Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov) (Homoptera: Aphididae), RWA2-RWA5, have been discovered that have the ability to damage most of the wheat germplasm resistant to the original Russian wheat aphid population (RWA1). Barley germplasm lines with resistance to RWA1 have not yet been evaluated against the newest biotypes. Our study compared how biotypes RWA1-RWA5 affected the growth and leaf damage of RWA1-resistant germplasm (STARS 9301B, STARS 9577B), moderately resistant germplasm (MR-015), and susceptible varieties (Schuyler, Harrington, and Morex) under greenhouse conditions. Russian wheat aphid population levels also were determined 14 d after plant infestation. STARS 9301B exhibited strong resistance by showing only small differences in leaf damage and growth parameters from the feeding by the biotypes. STARS 9577B showed greater differences in damage by the Russian wheat aphid biotypes than STARS 9301B, yet, the ratings were still within the resistant category (e.g., chlorosis rating 2.3-4.9). Leaf chlorosis ratings for MR-015 ranged from 5.0 to 6.9 and fell within the moderately resistant to susceptible categories for all the biotypes. The greatest difference in leaf chlorosis occurred in Morex where RWA2 showed less virulence than the other biotypes. Feeding by the Russian wheat aphid biotypes produced only small differences in leaf rolling and plant growth within plant entries. Population levels of the Russian wheat aphid biotypes did not differ within barley entries (n = 610-971) at the termination of the study (14 d). From our research, we conclude that the new Russian wheat aphid biotypes pose no serious threat to the key sources of resistance in barley (STARS 9301B and 9577B).     

Comparison of categories of resistance in wheat and barley genotypes against biotype 2 of the Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov)

The Russian wheat aphid Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov) (Homoptera: Aphididae) is a global pest of wheat and barley. This arthropod is difficult to manage with pesticides or biological control agents due to the aphid’s ability to seek shelter in rolled leaves and also to develop virulent biotypes. During the past 20 years, the use of aphid-resistant cereal cultivars has proven to be an economically and ecologically beneficial method of protecting crops from D. noxia damage. Our research reports the results of experiments to determine the categories of D. noxia biotype 2 resistance present in Cereal Introduction Triticeae (CItr) 2401, and a barley genotype (IBRWAGP4-7), compared to control resistant and susceptible wheat and barley genotypes. CItr2401 and IBRWAGP4-7 exhibit no antixenosis, but both genotypes demonstrated antibiosis to D. noxia in the form of reduced aphid populations. Reduced leaf dry weight change, a measure of plant tolerance of D. noxia feeding, was significantly less in CItr2401 and IBRWAGP4-7 plants than in plants of susceptible control varieties. However, tolerance was negated when a tolerance index was calculated to correct for differences in aphid populations. Barley IBRWAGP4-7 is a new source of D. noxia biotype 2 resistance. D. noxia foliar leaf damage and population growth were significantly less on IBRWAGP4-7 plants than on plants of the susceptible barley variety Morex. IBRWAGP4-7 plants were equal in resistance to plants of the resistant barley STARS 9301 and wheat genotype CItr2401. Handling editor: Heikki Hokkanen     

Hymenopteran parasitoids and dipteran predators of the invasive aphid Diuraphis noxia after enemy introductions: Temporal variation and implication for future aphid invasions

Shifts in prevalence and abundance of hymenopteran parasitoids and dipteran predators, Diuraphis noxia, and other aphids were measured in the west-central Great Plains of North America, April–September, in 2001 and 2002, corresponding to over a decade after first detection of D. noxia and first release of D. noxia enemies. Significant temporal shifts in enemy species prevalence and diversity were detected in this study and more broadly during an 11 year time span. At any given time, some species were relatively common. One parasitoid had been predominant throughout (Aphelinus albipodus), two had shifted in dominance (Lysiphlebus testaceipes and Diaeretiella rapae), three parasitoids had been detected infrequently (Aphidius avenaphis, Aphidius matricariae, and Aphelinus asychis), one parasitoid was detected in the 1990s but not during 2001 and 2002 (Aphelinus varipes), two predatory flies occurred at occasional significant levels (Leucopis gaimarii and Eupeodes volucris), and two parasitoids may have been minor members of the fauna (Aphidius ervi and Praon yakimanum). Aphid populations detected were usually very low or not detected, precluding estimation of percent parasitism. The best evidence of suppression was observations of parasitoids in the rare case of D. noxia exceeding economic thresholds, which complemented past studies using high aphid densities. The D. noxia enemies detected were primarily endemic or long-time residents derived from previous introductions. This enemy community may provide flexibility in responding to a future aphid invasion, allowing more strategic use of biological control and other pest management approaches.     

Effect of parasitism on flight behavior of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines

Many aphid species possess wingless (apterous) and winged (alate) stages, both of which can harbor parasitoids at various developmental stages. Alates can either be parasitized directly or can bear parasitoids eggs or larvae resulting from prior parasitism of alatoid nymphs. Winged aphids bearing parasitoid eggs or young larvae eventually still engage in long-distance flights, thereby facilitating parasitoid dispersal. This may have a number of important implications for biological control of aphids by parasitoids. In this study, we determined the effect of parasitism by Aphelinus varipes (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) on wing development and flight of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines (Hemiptera: Aphididae). We also quantified the influence of aphid flight distance on subsequent A. varipes development. Parasitism by A. varipes was allowed at different A. glycines developmental stages (i.e., alatoid 3rd and 4th-instar nymphs, alates) and subsequent aphid flight was measured using a computer-monitored flight mill. Only 35% of aphids parasitized as L3 alatoid nymphs produced normal winged adults compared to 100% of L4 alatoids. Flight performance of aphids parasitized as 4th-instar alatoid nymphs 24 or 48 h prior to testing was similar to that of un-parasitized alates of identical age, but declined sharply for alates that had been parasitized as 4th-instar alatoid nymphs 72 and 96 h prior to testing. Flight performance of aphids parasitized as alate adults for 24 h was not significantly different from un-parasitized alates of comparable ages. Flight distance did not affect parasitoid larval or pupal development times, or the percent mummification of parasitized aphids. Our results have implications for natural biological control of A. glycines in Asia and classical biological control of the soybean aphid in North America.     

Variation to cause host injury between Russian wheat aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) clones virulent to Dn4 wheat

Biotypes are infraspecific classifications based on biological rather than morphological characteristics. Cereal aphids are managed primarily by host plant resistance, and they often develop biotypes that injure or kill previously resistant plants. Although molecular genetic variation within aphid biotypes has been well documented, little is known about phenotypic variation, especially virulence or the biotype's ability to cause injury to cultivars with specific resistance genes. Five clones (single maternal lineages) of Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov) (Homoptera: Aphididae), determined to be injurious to wheat, Triticum aestivum L., with the Dn4 gene, were evaluated on resistant and susceptible wheat and barley, Hordeum vulgare L., for their ability to cause chlorosis, reduction in plant height, and reduction in shoot dry weight. Variation to cause injury on resistant 'Halt' wheat, susceptible 'Jagger' wheat, and resistant 'STARS-9301B' barley was found among the Dn4 virulent clones. One clone caused up to 30.0 and 59.5% more reduction in plant height and shoot dry weight, respectively, on resistant Halt than other clones. It also caused up to 29.9 and 55.5% more reduction in plant height and shoot dry weight, respectively, on susceptible Jagger wheat. Although STARS-9301B barley exhibited an equal resistant response to feeding by all five clones based on chlorosis, two clones caused approximately 20% more reduction in plant height and shoot dry weight than three other clones. The most injurious clones on wheat were not the most injurious clones on barley. This is the first report of variation to cause varying degrees of plant damage within an aphid biotype virulent to a single host resistance gene. A single aphid clone may not accurately represent the true virulent nature of a biotype population in the field.     

Supercooling capacity of Eurasian and North American populations of parasitoids of the Russian wheat aphid, >Diuraphis noxia

Supercooling points were estimated for seven populations of >Aphelinus albipodus, five populations of >Aphelinus asychis, and four populations of >Diaeretiella rapae to assess whether their supercooling points were sufficiently low to provide the potential for overwintering survival in colder temperate climatic areas. Test individuals from all 16 of the parasitoid populations were collected originally from mummies of the Russian wheat aphid, >Diuraphis noxia. Mummies containing parasitoid pupae were maintained for 1 wk under three different temperature conditions (treatments): at room temperature (24.8 ± 0.2 °C), 1 wk at 0 °C, and 1 wk –5 °C, and the supercooling points across treatments, and within and among species were compared. Statistical differences in supercooling points were found among populations of >A. albipodus for each treatment, and for >A. asychis when maintained for 1 wk at room temperature. No differences in supercooling points were found among populations of >D. rapae mummies maintained under the three temperature treatments. The lowest supercooling points obtained for the three parasitoid species maintained at room temperature were the >A. albipodus population from Montana (–31.68 °C), the >A. asychis population from Greece (–32.04 °C), and the >D. rapaepopulation from the Caucasus (–33.12 °C). Preconditioning the parasitoid mummies to cold had no effect on the supercooling points for >A. albipodus, and in some cases unexpectedly increased the supercooling points for >A. asychisand >D. rapae. In comparing the overall mean supercooling points of the three parasitoid species, no differences were found within species (among temperature treatments), nor among species (within temperature treatments). It was concluded that observed differences in supercooling points of only a few degrees Centigrade among parasitoid populations and species would not be expected to cause differences in their overwintering success, especially given the expected variability in temperatures within and among overwintering sites.     

Influences of plant species on life history traits of Cotesia rubecula (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and its host Pieris rapae (Lepidotera: Pieridae)

The relative suitability of four plants was studied for larvae of Pieris rapae L. and its parasitoid Cotesia rubecula (Marshall). For unparasitized P. rapae, pupal dry weight and egg-pupa growth rate were higher on cabbage, radish and nasturtium than on Indian hedge mustard. Larval developmental rate and size were greatest for C. rubecula when its host was feeding on nasturtium. Wasp survival was not affected by the host insect/plant combination in which the parasitoid developed. These results indicate that the plant on which host larvae feed is an important factor in development of the parasitoid.     

Interactions of Russian wheat aphid, a hymenopterous parasitoid and resistant and susceptible slender wheatgrasses

Interactions among three trophic levels of resistant and susceptible slenderwheat grasses, Elymus trachycaulum (Link) Goule ex Shinners ex. H.F. Lewis, Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko), and a hymenopterous parasitoid were studied in the laboratory and greenhouse. These relationships were compared with a commercial susceptible wheat Triticum aestivum L. variety. Aphids reared on the resistant entries showed significantly lower weights and numbers. Significant reduction of parasitoid mummy weight and adult size was positively correlated with the effects on the aphids. Resistant entries also induced a longer prereproductive period for both the aphids and parasitoids. Numbers of aphids and aphid damage were significantly modified by the addition of parasitoids. Parasitism was higher on plants that did not have leaf rolling. These findings may indicate that antibiosis resistance studied here is not the most desirable because it decreases natural enemy vitality.     

麦双尾蚜及其天敌在春小麦和野生寄主上的种群动态

在塔城麦田调查发现,麦双尾蚜Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko) 在春小麦和野生寄主上的百株蚜量从大到小依次为春小麦、黑麦和野燕麦,在春小麦上最早出现高峰期。在春小麦上,瓢虫类数量最多达到516头/百株,菜蚜茧蜂Diaeretiella rapae和白足蚜小蜂Aphelinus albipodus的最高寄生率分别达到31.6%和12.9%。在黑麦上,麦双尾蚜主要被白足蚜小蜂寄生,最高寄生率达到42.9%,斑腹蝇幼虫Leucopis annulipes最高达到16头/百株。在野燕麦上,白足蚜小蜂和菜蚜茧蜂最高寄生率分别达到62.3%和31.8%。瓢虫和菜蚜茧蜂发生较早,白足蚜小蜂和斑腹蝇发生时间相对较晚。     

The role of natural enemy guilds in Aphis glycines suppression

Generalist natural enemy guilds are increasingly recognized as important sources of mortality for invasive agricultural pests. However, the net contribution of different species to pest suppression is conditioned by their biology and interspecific interactions. The soybean aphid, Aphis glycines (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is widely attacked by generalist predators, but the relative impacts of different natural enemy guilds remains poorly understood. Moreover, low levels of A. glycines parasitism suggest that resident parasitoids may be limited through intraguild predation. During 2004 and 2005, we conducted field experiments to test the impact of different guilds of natural enemies on A. glycines. We contrasted aphid abundance on field cages with ambient levels of small predators (primarily Orius insidiosus) and parasitoids (primarily Braconidae), sham cages and open controls exposed to large predators (primarily coccinellids), and cages excluding all natural enemies. We observed strong aphid suppression (86- to 36-fold reduction) in treatments exposed to coccinellids, but only minor reduction due to small predators and parasitoids, with aphids reaching rapidly economic injury levels when coccinellids were excluded. Three species of resident parasitoids were found attacking A. glycines at very low levels (<1% parasitism), with no evidence that intraguild predation by coccinellids attenuated parasitoid impacts. At the plant level, coccinellid impacts resulted in a trophic cascade that restored soybean biomass and yield, whereas small natural enemies provided only minor protection against yield loss. Our results indicate that within the assemblage of A. glycines natural enemies in Michigan, coccinellids are critical to maintain aphids below economic injury levels.     

Within-patch foraging behaviour of the aphid parasitoidAphidius funebris: plant architecture, host behaviour, and individual variation

The influence of plant architecture, host colony size, and host colony structure on the foraging behaviour of the aphid parasitoidAphidius funebris Mackauer (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) was investigated using a factorial experimental design. The factorial design involved releasing individual parasitoid females in aphid colonies consisting of either 10 or 20 individuals ofUroleucon jaceae L. (Homoptera: Aphididae) of either only larval instar L3 or a mixture of host instars, both on unmanipulated plants and on plants that had all leaves adjacent to the colony removed. Interactions between the parasitoid and its host were recorded until the parasitoid had left the plant. The time females spent on the host plant and the number of eggs laid varied greatly among females. Host colony size significantly affected patch residence time and the number of contacts between parasitoids and aphids. Plant architecture influenced the time-budget of the parasitoids which used leaves adjacent to the aphid colony for attacking aphids. Female oviposition rate was higher on unmanipulated plants than on manipulated plants. No further significant treatment effects on patch residence time, the number of contacts, attacks or ovipositions were found. Oviposition success ofA. funebris was influenced by instar-specific host behaviour. Several rules-of-thumb proposed by foraging theory did not account for parasitoid patch-leaving behaviour.     

Effect of various cauliflower cultivars on population density fluctuations of the cabbage aphid,Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) (Hom.: Aphididae) and its parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae (McIntosh) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

In this study, population density changes of the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassica (L.), were tested in the field during 2011 under natural infestation at research field of the Shahed University (South of Tehran). This investigation was conducted on the eight cauliflower cultivars including Smilla, Snow mystique, White cloud, Buris, Galiblanka, Snow crown, SG and Tokita in randomised complete block design with five replications. Sampling was done after starting of aphid activity in the field every week and the total number of adult aphids and nymphs were counted in three leaves of the upper, middle and lower parts of the plant. In addition, the percentage of parasitism of the cabbage aphid by Diaeretiella rapae was evaluated. Results of the sampling showed that peak of the aphid population were at the first half of November. The parasitism percent of the cabbage aphid by D. rapae was significantly different among studied cultivars (p?<?0.05). Therefore, it can be concluded that using of Smilla, Buris and SG cultivars probably increases the efficiency of D. rapae in the control of the B. brassica (L.).     

Evaluation of the local population of Eretmocerus mundus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) for biological control of Bemisia tabaci biotype B (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in greenhouse peppers in Argentina

Bemisia tabaci biotype B is a key pest in pepper crops in Argentina. The parasitoid Eretmocerus mundus is frequently found parasitizing this whitefly in greenhouses without pesticide applications. The present studies were carried out with the objective of evaluating control obtained with different rate and number of parasitoid releases under experimental conditions. Release rate: cages with pepper pots were positioned in an experimental greenhouse and randomly assigned to the release rate treatments (0, 1 and 3 pairs of E. mundus/plant/week with a total of three introductions). Number of releases: similar cages were assigned to the number of parasitoid introduction treatments (0, 1, 2 and 3) with the best release rate obtained in the previous trial. In both assays whitefly (adults and nymphs) and parasitoid (parasitized nymphs) population sizes in each cage were monitored weekly for a period of 10 weeks. Results suggested that the introduction of 2 E. mundus/plant/week was enough to suppress host population compared to control treatment (peaks of 7.75 adults and 58.75 nymphs/cage and 643.75 adults and 1598 nymphs/cage, respectively) (p < 0.05), with 85% of parasitism. E. mundus had to be introduced three times to achieve the best pest control (peaks of 1.17 adults and 20.33 nymphs/cage vs. 55.67 adults and 75 nymphs/cage in control treatment) with 84% of parasitism (p < 0.05). These results were then validated in a pepper crop under experimental greenhouse conditions. Whitefly population was lower in those greenhouses where E. mundus was released compared to control greenhouses (0.15 adults and 0.71 nymphs/4 leaves and 0.73 adults and 1.64 nymphs/4 leaves, respectively), with a peak of 54% of parasitism (p < 0.05). We concluded that good suppression of B. tabaci could be achieved using E. mundus under spring conditions in Argentina.     

Species diversity, abundance, and phenology of aphid natural enemies on spring wheats resistant and susceptible to Russian wheat aphid

The species composition, relativeabundance, and seasonal dynamics of selectednatural enemies of cereal aphids were monitoredin spring wheat fields in Moscow, Idaho in 1997and 1998. Trials also examined the potentialimpact of resistance to Russian wheat aphid(RWA), Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko)(Homoptera: Aphididae) in wheat, on aphidbiological control agents. Natural enemypopulations were monitored on two springwheats: D. noxia susceptible variety`Centennial' and resistant genotype `IDO488'. Field plots were artificially infested withadult D. noxia, and sampled for cerealaphids and parasitoids weekly. Coccinellidpredators were monitored once in 1997 and twicein 1998. The coccinellids Hippodamiaconvergens Guerin, Coccinellaseptempunctata L., C. transversoguttataBrown and C. trifasciata Mulsant weredetected. No significant differences in adultor immature coccinellid densities were observedbetween the D. noxia resistant andsusceptible genotypes. During both years, themost abundant primary hymenopteran parasitoidswere Diaeretiella rapae (M'Intosh), Aphidius ervi Haliday, A. avenaphis(Fitch), and Lysiphlebus testaceipes(Cresson), Aphelinus varipes (Foerster),Aphidius colemani Viereck, Aphidiuspicipes (Nees), Aphidius sp., Monoctonus washingtonensis Pike & Stary, Praon gallicum Stary, Praon occidentaleBaker, and Praon sp. were also detected. Numbers of both D. noxia and D.rapae were significantly greater on Centennialthan on IDO488 in both years. When all speciesof cereal aphids and parasitoids areconsidered, the total percentage parasitism wasnot significantly different between thegenotypes. There was no interaction betweenD. noxia resistance and the populationdensity of the predators or parasitoidsmonitored. These results suggest that the D. noxia resistant line had no adverse impacton natural enemies under the conditions ofthese field experiments.     

A survey of aphids and aphid parasitoids in cereal fields in Denmark, and the parasitoids' role in biological control

In 1996 and 1997 a field survey of the abundance and species composition of cereal aphid primary and secondary parasitoids in spring barley, winter wheat and durum wheat was conducted in Zealand, Denmark. The purpose was to create a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying aphid–parasitoid dynamics in the field. Such an understanding can be used when developing biological control methods in cereals. In both years aphid attacks in cereals began in late June and never exceeded the economic threshold. In 1996 the first aphids were found in wheat on 26 June; in 1997 the first aphids were found on 24 June on both crops. The highest densities reached in 1996 were an average of six aphids per shoot in winter wheat and one aphid per shoot in spring barley. In 1997 the highest densities reached were 11 aphids per shoot in winter wheat and four aphids per shoot in spring barley. The aphid population collapsed by the end of July to early August in 1996, but it collapsed by mid-July in 1997. The onset and peak of parasitization were delayed in comparison to aphid infestation. Parasitism was 20–60% by the end of the cropping season in spring barley, and 30–80% in winter wheat and durum wheat in 1996. In 1997 parasitism did not exceed 3–11% in barley and was less than 2% in one winter wheat field but more than 40% in the other winter wheat field sampled. In both years most parasitism was due to Aphidiidae (Hymenoptera). The two dominant species were Aphidius ervi Haliday and Aphidius rhopalosiphi De Stefani-Perez. Hyperparasitism began after primary parasitism and increased progressively during the cropping season. The two years were similar in many respects, including for species composition of aphids and parasitoids. The late start of the aphid infestation may have contributed to the high level of parasitization found in 1996, but in 1997 the aphid infestation period was so short that a parasitoid population did not have time to build up.     

Parasitism by Pteromalus cerealellae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on the Cowpea weevil, Callosbruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae): Host density, temperature effects, and host finding ability

Studies on interactions between a larval parasitoid, Pteromalus cerealellae (Boucek) and one of its hosts, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) were carried out in the laboratory. The number of host larvae parasitized by P. cerealellae increased with host larvae at low densities and tended to a plateau at a density of 25 larvae per female parasitoid. Each parasitoid was able to parasitize more hosts and produced more offspring at 20 and 25 °C than at 30 °C. The number of non-infested seeds mixed with seeds infested with the last instar of C. maculatus did not preclude P. cerealellae from identifying infested seeds and attacking larvae inside them. When infested seeds were tightly packed, several host larvae escaped parasitism. P. cerealellae may be a useful biological control agent in newly harvested cowpea with low C. maculatus infestation, and lowering the temperature of the storage system may enhance the effectiveness of this parasitoid.     

Efficacy of inoculative releases of Trichogramma ostriniae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) against European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in field corn

We evaluated the egg parasitoid Trichogramma ostriniae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) to control European corn borer [Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner)] in field corn in 2001 and 2002. Inoculative releases of 75,000 T. ostriniae/ha occurred in New York and Virginia in 5–10 cornfields per state when corn was at mid-whorl. Incidence of egg mass parasitism, number of stalk tunnels, incidence of ear damage, and whole-plant yield were evaluated. Parasitism of European corn borer egg masses ranged from 0 to 75% in release plots and was greater in release plots than in control plots. Individual comparisons between paired release and control plots showed no reductions in either stalk or ear damage. However, when data were combined across both years and fields, stalk and ear damage were significantly reduced in New York. In Virginia, no significant differences were detected using data obtained from one year. There were no differences in yield between release and control plots. Low densities of European corn borer, drought conditions in 1 year, and a larger plant canopy in field corn are possible reasons why T. ostriniae releases provided less control than has been observed in previous trials in sweet corn. Additional research focused on improved timing and frequency and number of releases is warranted.     

Effect of wheat resistance, the parasitoid Aphidius rhopalosiphi, and the entomopathogenic fungus Pandora neoaphidis, on population dynamics of the cereal aphid Sitobion avenae

The influence of wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) resistance, the parasitoid Aphidius rhopalosiphiDe Stephani-Perez (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and the entomopathogenic fungus Pandora neoaphidis(Remaudière et Hennebert) Humber (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales) on the density and population growth rate of the cereal aphid Sitobion avenae(F.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) was studied under laboratory conditions. Partial wheat resistance was based on hydroxamic acids, a family of secondary metabolites characteristic of several cultivated cereals. The partial resistance of wheat cultivar Naofén, the action of the parasitoid and the joint action of the parasitoid and fungus, reduced aphid density. The lowest aphid densities were obtained with the combination of the parasitoid and the fungus, but wheat resistance under these circumstances did not improve aphid control. Significant reductions of population growth rate (PGR) of aphids were obtained with the joint action of wheat resistance and natural enemies. In particular, the combined effects of parasitoids and fungi showed significantly lower PGR than the control without natural enemies in both wheat cultivars. Our results support the hypothesis that wheat resistance and the utilization of biological control agents could be complementary strategies in an integrated pest management program against cereal aphids.     

Interactions among the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales), the parasitoid, Aphidius matricariae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), and its host, Myzus persicae (Homoptera: Aphididae)

The effect of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana on the biological characteristics and life table of Aphidius matricariae, a parasitoid of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, was studied under laboratory conditions. Aphids were first infected with twice the LC₉₅ of B. bassiana for third-instar M. persicae (2 × 10⁸ conidia/ml). Subsequently, at different intervals they were exposed to 1-day-old mated parasitoid females for 24 h. The number of mummies produced per female and the percentage emergence of the F1 generation differed significantly as a function of the time interval between application of the fungus and exposure to the parasitoid. The interference of B. bassiana on parasitoid development was also studied by first exposing the aphid hosts to the parasitoid for 24 h and subsequently applying B. bassiana. The number of mummies produced by a female A. matricariae varied from 11.8 to 24.8 and was significantly different when the aphids were first exposed to the parasitoids and then treated with B. bassiana 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after exposure. There were no significantly different effects of B. bassiana on net reproductive rate (R₀), mean generation time (T), intrinsic rate (r_m) and the finite rate of increase (λ) of A. matricariae as a result of development in hosts exposed to low or high conidial concentrations (1 × 10², 2 × 10⁸ conidia/ml). The parasitoids developed in infected hosts had lower r_m, λ, T and DT (doubling time) values compared with those that developed in uninfected hosts but no differences were observed in R₀ values. With proper timing, A. matricariae and B. bassiana can be used in combination in the successful biological control of M. persicae.