Use of Sitobion akebiae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) as an alternative host aphid for a banker-plant system using an indigenous parasitoid, Aphidius gifuensis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Abstract

Six species of legume or cereal-feeding aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum, Aphis craccivora, Megoura crassicauda, Rhopalosiphum maidis, Rhopalosiphum padi and Sitobion akebiae (Hemiptera: Aphididae), were tested as candidates for alternative hosts of Aphidius gifuensis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), an indigenous natural enemy attacking vegetable pest aphids Aulacorthum solani and Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae). A. pisum, R. maidis and S. akebiae were accepted by A. gifuensis. S. akebiae showed the most successful parasitism by A. gifuensis among the six aphid species tested, with a mummification rate of 71.7% and emergence rate of 96.7%. No parasitism was observed on R. padi, an alternative host available in the banker-plant system with an exotic parasitic wasp, Aphidius colemani (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). A. gifuensis females reared on S. akebiae had the same developmental period and body size as those reared on M. persicae, with no significant differences. They also demonstrated successful parasitic performance in A. solani and M. persicae. These results suggest that S. akebiae should be a promising alternative host for use in a banker-plant system with A. gifuensis.