Suitability and Profitability of a Cereal Aphid for the Parasitoid Aphidius platensis in the Context of Conservation Biological Control of Myzus persicae in Orchards

Abstract

The use of cover crops can promote the abundance and early arrival of populations of natural enemies. Cereal cover crops between orchards rows could encourage the early arrival of the parasitoid Aphidius platensis, as they offer alternative winter hosts (e.g., Rhopalosiphum padi), enhancing the control of Myzus persicae in spring. However, the preference for and suitability of the alternative host must be addressed beforehand. To evaluate the potential of this strategy, we assessed host preference using behavioural choice tests, as well as no-choice tests measuring fitness traits, when developing on both host species. One source field for each aphid population from the above hosts was chosen. There was a clear choice for R. padi compared to M persicae, independently of the source, probably due to more defensive behaviours of M. persicae (i.e., kicks and escapes). Nevertheless, both aphid species were suitable for parasitoids’ development. The female progeny developed on R. padi were larger in size, irrespective of their origin. According to our results, in peach orchards with cereals sown between peach trees during the autumn, where we expect when R. padi populations will no longer be available during spring, A. platensis should be able to switch to M. persicae.

Hymenopteran Parasitoids of Aphid Pests within Australian Grain Production Landscapes

“…The large numbers of M. persicae and B. brassicae, both brassica aphids, likely contributed to the abundance of this parasitoid, as it is known globally to prefer aphid hosts on cruciferous plants [ 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 ]. Furthermore, D. rapae has the ability to withstand the defensive kicking behaviour displayed by the most commonly sampled canola aphid, M. persicae [ 66 ].…”

Providing Alternative Hosts and Nectar to Aphid Parasitoids in a Plum Orchard to Determine Resource Complementarity and Distance Range Effect on Biological Control

“…No clear effect of the vicinity of the intercropping on parasitism incidence in plum aphids was detected and, unfortunately, parasitoid emergence was too low to be able to determine whether one species or another was more abundant in plum trees associated with one of the three intercropping modalities. Nevertheless, the fact that we found shared parasitoid species between the two vegetation levels may indicate that transfer between them is possible, which has recently been observed by Alvarez-Baca et al (2020) on A. platensis between cereal aphids and Myzus persicae aphids in peach orchards [54]. Our methodology was possibly insufficient to validate the field dispersal of these organisms, as parasitoids movements were not followed in the field, directly or indirectly.…”

“…These parasitoid species were presumably able to transfer from oats as an intercrop to orchard trees. Aphids on oats usually arrive early in the season, before plum trees start budding, which can be favourable for building up early parasitoid populations in the orchard [53,54].…”

Groenbemesters : Een overzicht van kennisvragen

“…Dit zou een positief effect kunnen hebben op het onderdrukken van plagen in een volggewas. Onderzoek naar de effecten van groenbemesters op natuurlijk vijanden is voornamelijk gedaan in boomgaarden en gewassen zoals thee, katoen en rijst (Alvarez-Baca et al, 2020;Bowers et al, 2020;Chen et al, 2019;de Pedro et al, 2020;Luo et al, 2019). Er is vooralsnog geen literatuur gevonden uit West Europa.…”