Optimizing aphid biocontrol with the predator Aphidoletes aphidimyza, based on biology and ecology

Aphidoletes aphidimyza is one of the most important predators used in the augmentative biological control of aphids, key pests of many crops worldwide. Adult females are very efficient in locating aphid infestations over a relatively long range, up to 45 m, and deposit eggs near or within aphid colo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pest management science 2019-06, Vol.75 (6), p.1479-1493
Main Authors: Boulanger, François‐Xavier, Jandricic, Sarah, Bolckmans, Karel, Wäckers, Felix L, Pekas, Apostolos
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abiotic factors
Air temperature
aphid management
Aphidoidea
Aphidoletes aphidimyza
augmentative biological control
Biological control
Biotic factors
Cecidomyiidae
Crops
Diapause
Ecology
Egg laying
Eggs
Females
Food sources
Genetic variability
integrated pest management, side effects
Interspecific
Larvae
Nutritional ecology
Organic chemistry
Pest control
Pests
Plant protection
Population dynamics
Predation
Predators
Provisioning
Pupation
Relative humidity
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Summary:Aphidoletes aphidimyza is one of the most important predators used in the augmentative biological control of aphids, key pests of many crops worldwide. Adult females are very efficient in locating aphid infestations over a relatively long range, up to 45 m, and deposit eggs near or within aphid colonies. The predatory larvae are aphid generalists preying on several agriculturally important aphid species. The successful use of this biocontrol agent in agricultural systems depends on several biotic and abiotic factors. Among biotic factors, aphid species, plant structure, interspecific competition and intraguild predation may significantly impact the predator´s population dynamics. Key abiotic conditions include day lengths (above a critical threshold to prevent diapause), availability of mating sites in the crop, temperature (above 15 °C to enable egg laying), air relative humidity (above 70%) and availability of pupation sites. Although several successes have been reported in open field crops with naturally occurring or released populations, commercial releases are primarily used in protected crops. Optimized emergence boxes combining provisioning of food sources for the adults, integration with the technological advances that occurred in the greenhouse environment lately, insights into the nutritional ecology in open field crops and exploration of the genetic variability are proposed as future directions to improve adoption and efficacy of A. aphidimyza in crop protection. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry Life cycle of Aphidoletes aphidimyza.
ISSN:1526-498X
1526-4998
DOI:10.1002/ps.5270