Aphis Pomi DeGeer Research Articles

Does spirea aphid (Aphis spiraecola Patch, Homoptera: Aphididae) overwinter on apple in Central Europe?

The native green apple aphid (Aphis pomi DeGeer) and the invasive green spirea aphid (Aphis spiraecola Patch) share apple as a common host plant during the summer months in Central Europe. Various studies suggest that, under certain conditions, the originally host-alternating A. spiraecola is able to overwinter on apple as a winter host, following a similar life history to A. pomi. In this study, we collected stem mothers (fundatrices) and aphids of the second generation (fundatrigeniae) from ten localities throughout Hungary for nine consecutive springs to assess whether A. spiraecola can overwinter on apple as a winter host. All the collected aphid individuals (1126 aphids from 114 stem colonies during the nine years of the study) belonged to A. pomi, indicating that A. spiraecola does not, or very rarely can, overwinter on apple under Central European conditions.

Providing sugar sources for ants improves the biological control of Aphis spp. in apple orchards

The green apple aphids Aphis pomi DeGeer and A. spiraecola Patch are serious pests of apple, especially in young orchards, where both species establish facultative mutualisms with ants. This study, conducted in Hungary in 2014 and 2015, manipulated the presence of the common black ant Lasius niger (L.) on colonies of Aphis spp. in apple tree canopies. To this end, two kinds of sugar dispensers (bottle dispensers and agar jelly cubes), each providing a sucrose solution with 300 g/1000 ml concentration, were deployed as alternative sugar sources for the ants, with plots lacking dispensers serving as controls. Both forms of sugar provisioning reduced the number of ants tending Aphis spp. colonies and reduced aphid populations compared to controls in both years. However, bottle dispensers demonstrated consistent efficacy in both years, whereas agar jelly cubes were less reliable in distracting the ants. Both treatments significantly increased the abundance of natural enemies at Aphis spp. colonies compared to controls. Our results indicate that the provisioning of ants with sugar in apple orchards can effectively disrupt ant-aphid mutualisms in the case of Aphis spp., by drawing ants away from aphid colonies and thus increasing natural enemy predation on aphid colonies. The use of sugar-feeding tactics to alter ant behaviour should permit reduced pesticide use in apple orchards, whether to control aphids or other pests that might serve as prey for ants, and is fundamentally compatible with biological pest control in apple orchards.

Chemical Composition and Allelopathic, Phytotoxic and Pesticidal Activities of Atriplex cana Ledeb. (Amaranthaceae) Essential Oil.

The chemical composition and allelopathic, phytotoxic and pesticidal activities of Atriplex cana Ledeb. (Amaranthaceae) essential oil were investigated. Nineteen compounds were identified via GC/MS, representing 82.3 % of the total oil, and the most abundant constituents were dibutyl phthalate (21.79 %), eucalyptol (20.14 %) and myrtenyl acetate (15.56 %). The results showed that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by A. cana significantly inhibited seedling growth of Amaranthus retroflexus L. and Poa annua L., and 80 g of fresh stems and leaves of A. cana in a 1.5 L airtight container almost completely suppressed the seed germination of both plants. Meanwhile, 5 μg/mL essential oil completely inhibited the seed germination of A. retroflexus, Medicago sativa L., P. annua and Echinochloa crusgalli L. Pesticidal testing revealed that the essential oil had strong behavioral avoidance and lethal effects on Aphis pomi DeGeer. Five microliters of essential oil/Petri dish treatment resulted in an 84.5 % mortality rate after 12 h, and the mortality rate reached nearly 100 % after 48 h. This report is the first one on the chemical composition as well as the biological activity of the essential oil of A. cana, and our results indicate that the oil is valuable in terms of being further exploited as a bioherbicide/insecticide.

EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT APPLE HYBRIDS FOR RESISTANCE TO APHIDS (DYSAPHIS PLANTAGINEA PASS. AND APHIS POMI DE GEER) IN BULGARIA: PRELIMINARY RESULTS

ISHS XXVII International Horticultural Congress - IHC2006: International Symposium on Sustainability through Integrated and Organic Horticulture EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT APPLE HYBRIDS FOR RESISTANCE TO APHIDS (DYSAPHIS PLANTAGINEA PASS. AND APHIS POMI DE GEER) IN BULGARIA: PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Estimating Development of <I>Aphis pomi</I> (DeGeer) (Homoptera: Aphididae) Using Linear and Nonlinear Models

The development period of immature stages of the green apple aphid, Aphis pomi (De Geer) (Homoptera: Aphididae), at 6 constant temperature regimes (20, 24, 28, 30, 32, and 34 degrees C) were modelled to determine mathematical functions for simulating aphid development. 10 models (one linear and nine nonlinear), were used to describe the relationships between temperature and development rate of the different instars and stages of Aphis pomi (DeGeer) at constant temperatures. All models (except logistic and linear) provided accurate values for the optimum temperature for the Ist, 2nd, 3rd, 4th instars larvae and for the total development. The results suggest that among four models (Hilbert & Logan, Lactin, Briere, Analytis) that estimate all three parameters (tmin, topt, tmax), Lactin and Hilbert - Logan models gave the most suitable fit of data.

Verification and Extension of a Sampling Plan for Apple Aphid,Aphis pomiDeGeer (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Population densities of highly aggregated insect species in complex and variable habitats can be difficult to estimate efficiently, accurately, and with minimal variance. Aphis pomi DeGeer exemplifies this situation, in that its infestations typically are found near the tips of vigorously growing shoots of apple, Malus domestica Borkh, which vary in number and distribution throughout the growing season. Because A. pomi populations are permanently confined to vigorous shoots, randomly selecting shoots to sample is inefficient and unnecessarily increases the variance in population estimates. Previous workers resolved many difficulties in sampling A. pomi by recommending the use of the number of aphids on the most infested leaf as a reliable predictor for the number of aphids on the shoot. While this sampling protocol has been widely adopted, it is most applicable early in the growing season or in other unusual situations when tree vigor is high and randomly selected shoots are likely to be infested. In this paper, we confirm that the most infested leaf is still a reliable predictor for the number of aphids on a shoot throughout the growing season, even when A. pomi densities are very low. However, we also suggest that the efficiency and performance of the most infested leaf as a predictor can be improved by using preliminary sampling to determine the proportion of vigorous shoots in the orchard or block of interest and sampling for A. pomi only from those vigorous shoots.

Effectiveness of Hyaliodes vitripennis (Say) (Heteroptera: Miridae) predation in apple orchards

The biology of Hyaliodes vitripennis Say (Heteroptera: Miridae) and its potential for biological control of mites and aphids were studied for 3 yr in apple orchard settings. Results showed a significant repressive effect of H. vitripennis on the European red mite, Panonychus ulmi Koch, the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch and a significant augmentative effect on the green aphids ( Aphis pomi DeGeer and Aphis spiraecola Pagenstecher). The predator also precluded the action of naturally occurring predatory mites, either by resource competition or by direct predation, but the resultant effect was always detrimental to P. ulmi.

Predation upon the oblique-banded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), by two aphidophagous coccinellids (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in the presence and absence of aphids

Our goal has been to determine the effect of the presence of aphids on voracity (measured as number of prey eaten and biomass consumed) of Coccinella septempunctata L. and Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) feeding upon the oblique-banded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). For each coccinellid predator, treatments using a single prey species, with either 30 first instar C. rosaceana or 100 third instars Aphis pomi DeGeer (Hemiptera: Aphididae), were compared with two-prey treatments in which the two prey species were present simultaneously. For both predators, the total number of prey killed (total prey species pooled) and the total biomass consumed were significantly higher when both prey were pre- sent than in single-prey treatments. The voracity of C. septempunctata on C. rosaceana larvae was not affected by adding A. pomi, whereas that of H. axyridis declined; the voracity of both predators on A. pomi increased when C. rosaceana larvae were added. The preference for the aphids over C. rosaceana was confirmed for both coccinellid species.

Population Development and Insecticide Susceptibility of Apple Aphid and Spirea Aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) on Apple2

Colonies of apple aphid, Aphis pomi DeGeer, and spirea aphid, A. spiraecola Patch, were confined separately in bottle cages on apple tree branches to compare population development and susceptibility to insecticides under field conditions. Spirea aphid populations were significantly larger than apple aphid populations eight days after introduction into bottle cages. After two and a half weeks there was a 24-fold and 40-fold increase in the population of apple aphid and spirea aphid, respectively. Apple aphid was more susceptible than spirea aphid to a low concentration of esfenvalerate and to normal field and 2X field concentrations of azinphosmethyl. There was no significant difference between the two aphid species in susceptibility to methomyl, chlorpyrifos and endosulfan. Mortality of apple aphid to the two phosphate insecticides, azinphosmethyl and chlorpyrifos, was similar; however, spirea aphid was more susceptible to chlorpyrifos than to azinphosmethyl. An increased rate of population development and a greater tolerance of azinphosmethyl, the most widely used insecticide for apple insect control, could be contributing factors in the virtually complete domination of spirea aphid over apple aphid in West Virginia apple orchards.

EFFECT OF FOOD SOURCES ON THE LONGEVITY AND FECUNDITY OF PHOLETESOR ORNIGIS (WEED) (HYMENOPTERA: BRACONIDAE)

AbstractThe fecundity of first-generation adult Pholetesor ornigis (Weed) increased when individuals were confined with flowers of creeping "Charlie" (Glechoma hederacea L.), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber), and apple (Malus domesticus L.), but not with blossoms of chickweed [Stellaria media (L.) Cyrillo] or Shepherd’s purse [Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medic]. Longevity of P. ornigis was little affected. The fecundity of second-generation P. ornigis increased when individuals were confined with terminal leaves of apple with honeydew of the aphid Aphis pomi DeGeer, but not when confined with terminal leaves without honeydew or with flowers of round-leaved mallow (Malva neglecta Wallr.) or red clover (Trifolium pratense L.). Longevity of P. ornigis adults also increased when they were provided with aphid honeydew. There were significant differences between the total number (oviposited and ovarian) of eggs produced by second-generation females given different food sources. Those given aphid honeydew oviposited a greater proportion of their eggs than those confined with apple leaves without honeydew or with flowers of M. neglecta or T. pratense, Adult P. ornigis fed an aqueous solution of honey (50:50, v/v) lived longest and produced more eggs than those provided with any other food source.

THE GREEN APPLE APHID,APHIS POMIDEGEER (HOMOPTERA: APHIDIDAE), AS PREY OF POLYPHAGOUS ARTHROPOD PREDATORS IN ONTARIO

AbstractIn Ontario several species of polyphagous arthropods consumed nymphs and apterous adults of the green apple aphid,Aphis pomiDeGeer, as determined by serological assays and feeding trials. The most abundant predators on apple tree foliage were the reduviidAcholla multispinosaL., the miridCampylomma verbasci(Meyer), the coccinellidsCoccinella septempunctataL. andAdalia bipunctataL., and coccinellid and chrysopid larvae. An efficacy index developed to assess the effectiveness of foliage-inhabiting predators indicated that those with the greatest potential wereChrysopalarvae and adultC.septempunctatain 1987, and adultC.septempunctataandC.verbasciin 1988. The earwig,Forficula auriculariaL., showed potential as a predator ofA.pomiin 1989. Of the epigeal arthropods tested, the carabidsAmara aeneaDeGeer,Bembidion quadrimaculatum oppositumL., andHarpalus aeneusF., and the antsFormica fuscagroup,Myrmica ameryanaForel, andM.monticolaWheeler were the most active feeders onA.pomi.

Ground cover influence on apple aphid, Aphis pomi DeGeer (Homoptera: Aphididae), and its predators in a young apple orchard

Four ground cover treatments were established in a young apple orchard to evaluate their effects on the apple aphid, Aphis pomi DeGeer, and its predators. The treatments were (1) fall rye, Secale cereale, herbicided in spring and summer; (2) white clover, Trifolium repens, and grass mixture; (3) herbicide strips with grassed alleys and (4) woven black plastic strips with grassed alleys. Seasonal tree terminal growth and leaf nitrogen in the clover-grass treatment were significantly lower than in the other three treatments in 1987 and terminal growth was significantly lower than in two of the other treatments in 1988, probably because of ground cover competition with the trees for nitrogen. Trees in the clover-grass treatment had total seasonal aphid and predator densities more than fourfold lower than trees in the other treatments in 1987, aphid and predator densities were more variable and not significantly different among treatments. Few ground cover predators were found except Lygaeidae, which rarely appeared in the trees. Terminals of trees in the non-clover treatments averaged 0.856 m of growth in 1987 despite carrying a mean of over 100 apple aphids per most infested terminal leaf for > 2 months.

Toxicity of Slide Dip Application of Five Insecticides to Apple Aphid and Spirea Aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae)2

A slide-dip bioassay using laboratory colonies revealed that apple aphid, Aphis pomi DeGeer, was more susceptible to esfenvalerate and methomyl, but less susceptible to azinphosmethyl than spirea aphid, A. spiraecola Patch. Susceptibility to endosulfan and chlorpyrifos was not significantly different between the two species. For A. pomi, order of insecticide toxicity was esfenvalerate > methomyl > endosulfan > chlorpyrifos > azinphosmethyl. For A. spiraecola, order of toxicity was esfenvalerate > methomyl > azinphosmethyl > chlorpyrifos > endosulfan. Knowledge of which species was present in a given apple orchard and the selective use of insecticides could result in more efficient aphid control while reducing toxicity to predators used in IPM programs.

RELEASE OF CHRYSOPERLA CARNEA STEPHENS (NEUROPTERA: CHRYSOPIDAE) FOR CONTROL OF THE GREEN APPLE APHID, APHIS POMI DEGEER (HOMOPTERA: APHIDIDAE)

AbstractRelease of the chrysopid, Chrysoperla cornea Stephens, at a rate of ca. 335 000 eggs per hectare, reduced significantly the numbers of apterous adults and nymphs of the green apple aphid, Aphis pomi DeGeer, on dwarf apple trees. Greater reduction in aphid numbers occurred in 1984 than in 1985, and the efficiency of the predator might have been influenced by the predator:prey ratios (1:10 and 1:19) used and by the mean daily temperature that occurred during the test periods. Application of azinphosmethyl (Guthion 50% wp, 0.105 and 0.075 kg AI/100 L) did not adversely affect predation of apterous A. pomi by larvae of C. carnea.

INCIDENCE OF SPIREA APHID (HOMOPTERA: APHIDIDAE) IN APPLE ORCHARDS IN VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, AND MARYLAND

Spirea aphid, Aphis spiraecola Patch, greatly outnumbered [87% A. spiraecola (S.D. ± 3.4)] apple aphid, Aphis pomi DeGeer, in apple orchards sampled in spring of 1986 in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. Apple as a primary host of A. spiraecola was shown for the first time by the presence of oviparae in the fall and fundatrices in the spring. Based on this survey, we suggest future research with “apple aphids” include species determination and preservation of voucher specimens.

Effects of two sterol-inhibiting fungicides on populations of pest and beneficial arthropods on apple

This research demonstrated that sterol-inhibiting fungicides alter the population structure of some pest and beneficial arthropods in apple orchards. Orchard populations of European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch) (Acarina: Tetranychidae); the predacious mite, Typhlodromus caudiglans Schuster (Acarina: Phytoseiidae); the spotted tentiform leafminer, Phyllonorycter blancardella Fabr. (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae); the leafminer parasite Pholetesor ornigis Weed (Hymenoptera: Braconidae); the green apple aphid, Aphis pomi DeGeer (Homoptera: Aphididae); white apple leafhopper, Typhlocyba pomaria McAtee (Homoptera: Cicadellidae); Campylomma verbasci Meyer (Hemiptera: Miridae); chalcids, primarily Sympiesis sericeicornis Nees (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae), were monitored for two growing seasons in a McIntosh apple orchard that had received applications, at 2-week intervals, of two sterol-inhibiting fungicides, bitertanol and flusilazole. High rates of flusilazole were associated with increased numbers of European red mite and decreased numbers of predacious mite species, particularly T. caudiglans. Trees receiving a high rate of bitertanol had fewer European red mites and predacious mite species. Fungicides did not influence spotted tentiform leafminer oviposition or the number of leafminer larvae in May and June 1985. However, in September 1985 there were fewer leafminer pupae in plots treated with the two lower rates of flusilazole and more larvae in plots treated with the high rate of bitertanol, relative to trees sprayed with captan. In 1986, there were more leafminer eggs in plots treated with the low rate of bitertanol compared with captan and non-sprayed trees. However, by 24 June, all treatments showed similar levels of leafminer larvae and pupae. Populations of P. ornigis were generally higher in trees treated with flusilazole in both years. Numbers of aphids and mullein bug were higher in trees treated with flusilazole relative to non-sprayed and captan-treated trees. Chalcid populations were higher in bitertanol-treated trees. Fungicides had no apparent effect on populations of white apple leafhopper.

Major insect pests and phytophagous mites associated with deciduous fruit orchards in Afghanistan

Abstract A study in three different ecological zones: the Paghman valley, Kabul Plateau; the Afghan‐Turkistan; and the Southwestern region, was conducted over two years to learn more about the impact of the major arthropod pests on the quality and quantity of the deciduous fruits in Afghanistan. Eight major pests were found to be causing considerable damage: Codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) and lesser ermine moth, Yponomauta padella (L.) were the limiting factors in the production of apple and almond respectively in some areas. Aphis pomi Degeer, Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann) and San Jose scale Quadraspidiotus pernidosus (Comstock) were more serious in the Southwestern region than the other areas. The mites, Tetranychus urticae (Koch) and Panonychus ulmi (Koch) were more serious in the Afghan‐Turkistan region. Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) was not as serious as codling moth.

Apple, Full Season Insecticide Evaluation, 1985

Abstract Experimental insecticide treatments were applied in a comparative test to mature semi-dwarf Golden Delicious trees on 4 Apr (delayed dormant), 18 Apr (pink), 8 May (petal-fall), 22 May, 4 jun, 18 Jun, 2 Jul, 22 Jul, and 6 Aug. Treatments were applied with a hand gun using a Bean 35 gal/min hydraulic sprayer operating at 400 psi. Single trees were used and replicated 4 times in a randomized block design. Trees were sprayed to runoff. WALH populations were evaluated on 20 May by counting the adults and nymphs found on 25 randomly selected leaves per tree. (ERM) populations were evaluated on 28 May, 17 Jul and 12 Aug by randomly selecting 25 leaves/tree, brushing with modified Henderson-McBurnie mite brushing machine onto glass plates and counting mites and eggs with a binocular microscope. SP populations were evaluated on 9 Aug by counting all adults and larvae in a timed count of 3 min/tree. Attempts were made to count rosy apple aphid (Dysaphis plantaginea Passerini) and apple aphid (Aphis pomi DeGeer) in this trial, but populations did not develop on the control trees or on any treatments. On 18 Sep, 400 apples/treatment (100/rep) were harvested and evaluated. A fruit finish rating of 1 to 5 (5 being worst) was given each apple.

European Earwigs (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) Fail to Control Apple Aphids on Bearing Apple Trees and Woolly Apple Aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae) in Apple Rootstock Stool Beds

Insectary-reared and wild European earwigs, Forficula auricularia L., provided with artificial daytime retreats on bearing apple trees infested with apple aphids, Aphis pomi DeGeer, failed to slow aphid population growth. The difference between this result and earlier success on nonbearing apple trees is not explained. Caged earwigs damaged a few apple fruits by feeding at the calyx end, but no damage to fruit and only minimal damage to leaves was observed when earwigs were allowed free movement. Earwigs released and caged on apple rootstock stool beds after suppression of apple aphids by insecticide treatment prevented resurgence of apple aphids but had no apparent effect on infestations of woolly apple aphids, Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann).

Augmentation of European Earwigs (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) for Biological Control of Apple Aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) in an Apple Orchard

European earwigs, Forficula auricularia L., reared on dogfood in an insectary, were released five to six per tree in an experimental block of prebearing apple trees and provided with artificial retreats on the trees and straw spread on the ground. The number of apple aphids, Aphis pomi DeGeer, on these trees declined in 3 weeks from near 500 per tree to less than 50, compared with over 3,000 per tree in an adjacent block kept free of earwigs and nearly 2,000 in a control block.