Interaction of Myzus spp. (Hemiptera: Aphididae) with their Food Plants, Parasitoids and Predators in Northeast Bihar

Abstract

The article examines the association of aphids along with their food plants, parasitoids and predators in varying ecological conditions for the possible use in biological control programs. Aphids are small, sap-sucking insects and they are considered an important pest of agricultural and horticultural plants due to sucking of vital nutrients and transmitting viral diseases. During the survey, 41 species of aphids were recorded on 122 plant species in northeast Bihar. Three species of Myzus viz., M. ascalonicus, M. persicae and M. variants were recorded. M. persicae was recorded on 36 food plants from December to April but its peak population was observed during February and March. Five species of parasitoids (Aphelinus albipodus, Aphelinus gossypii, Aphidius colemani, Binodoxys indicus, Diaeretiella rapae, Lipolexis oregmae), five species of coccinellid predators (Cheilomenes sexmaculata, Coccinella septempunctata, Coccinella transversalis, Micraspis discolor, Scymnus pyrocheilus) and three species of syrphid predators (Dideopsis aegrota, Ischiodon scutellaris, Melanostoma orientale) were recorded on M. persicae. Among these, three parasitoids (B. indicus, L. oregmae, A. gossypii), four coccinellids predators (C. sexmaculata, C. septempunctata, C. transversalis, S. pyrocheilus) and two syrphid predators (D. aegrota, I. scutellaris) were observed abundantly in all localities with a high rate of parasitization/predation on M. persicae.