Ladybird Beetle Coccinella Septempunctata Research Articles

Assessment of Relative Toxicity of Common Insecticides against Adult and Grubs of Coccinella septempunctata under Laboratory Settings

One of the significant aphid-eating predators that are natural is the ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata. C. septempunctata is a biological control agent and effective in integrated pest management strategies (IPM). In the development of IPM, chemical insecticides are routinely utilized, to boost crop protection and support the activity of biological control agents. Research on the relative toxicity of multiple insecticides on seven spotted ladybird beetle C. septempunctata L. instars was conducted in a lab environment to gauge the C. septempunctata’s reaction to powerful insecticides. Six insecticides were treated as Spinetoram 120SC (0.4%/0.5L), Steward 150EC (0.86/0.5L), Coragen 200ml (0.4%/0.5L), Siphtoram 120SE (0.8/0.5L), Chlorfenapyr 36% (1.25/0.5L), and Lufenuron 50% (1.0/0.5L) to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th instars of C. septempunctata. After 4, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours of the treatment, the results of the proportional death were determined. Ongoing investigation was done at 60±5% RH and 25+2oC. When administered on adult ladybird beetles, Lufenuron was detrimental in 99.4 % cases, Chlorfenapyr in 88.4% Steward in 85.5% of cases, Coragen in 83.2%, and Siphtoram in 77.6%, Spinetoram was very little hazardous substance based on the death rate, followed by, Coragen, Steward, Chlorfenapyr, and Lufenuron.

Selection of chemical pesticide to minimize toxic effect to ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata Linn (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) while managing black bean aphid Aphis fabae Scop. (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Faba bean (Vica faba L.) is important crop of Nepal which is grown in all climatic zone of country. Different insect pests are host of faba bean but black bean aphid Aphis fabae Scop. (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is of more concern. Most of the farmer shifted to another crop due to A. fabae problem. Different insecticide have been sprayed to manage this aphid but most of the farmer were unable control them. However, very limited research were conducted for its ecofriendly management. Thus, we evaluate different insecticides such as nitenpyram, flonicamid, imidacloprid, dimethoate, azadirachtin, and neem oil on laboratory. Scintillating glass vial test and filter paper test were employed. Higher number of aphid mortality were found on dimethoate with LT50 value of 15.93 hour followed by nitenpyram, and imidacloprid with 18.61 and 32.87 hour, respectively on scintillating glass vial test. On filter paper test, LT50 of dimethoate was 27.34 hour followed by imidacloprid and nitenpyram with 49.51 and 53.44, respectively. Similarly, higher lady bird beetle Coccinella septempunctata Linn (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) mortality were also caused by dimethoate with LT50 value of 63.38 hour followed by imidacloprid and nitenpyram with 153.21 188.42 hour. Our result suggested that nitenpyram or imidacloprid could be used for ecofriendly management of A. fabae with low mortality of its predator C. septempunctata. However precautionary measure has to be taken before applying them and waiting period has to be maintained for harvesting.

Efficacy of Sulfoxaflor 12%SC Against Aphids Complex and <i>Coccinella septempunctata</i> L. in Wheat

Efficacy of dosages of sulfoxaflor 12%SC were evaluated for the control of foliar aphids under Contract Research Project on wheat during rabi seasons of 2014-15 and 2015-16 at the research farm of ICAR- Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Karnal, Haryana. The standard check insecticides thiamethoxam 25WDG and quinalphos 25EC were included along with sulfoxaflor, and all the treatments were found to be significantly superior. The incidence of aphids/ shoot/ plant was significantly less with sulfoxaflor 12 SC @ 24, 27 and 30 g a.i./ ha with 94.54, 95.27 and 96.03% reduction, respectively; these being at par with each other, followed by thiamethoxam 25WDG @ 12.5 g a.i./ ha and quinalphos 25EC @ 250 g a.i./ ha. The seven-spotted ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata L. was the main natural enemy observed in the crop, and its counts were the least (1.50/ m2) with thiamethoxam 25WDG @ 12.5 g a.i./ha at 14 DAS. The pooled data revealed that the yield was significantly more with sulfoxaflor 12SC @ 24, 27 and 30 g a.i./ ha (52.21, 52.62 and 54.32 q/ ha) followed by thiamethoxam 25WDG @ 12.5 g a.i./ ha (49.87 q/ ha) which was at par with quinalphos 25EC @ 250 g a.i./ ha (47.73 q/ha). Considering incremental cost benefit ratio, sulfoxaflor 12% SC @30 g a.i/ ha (1:2.70) is the most economical, and no phytotoxicity symptoms were observed at its doses @30 and 60 g a.i/ ha.

An improved artificial diet for larvae of the seven-spotted ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata L.

The seven-spotted ladybird beetle, Coccinella septempunctata, is an important predator of soft-bodied insect pests that can be reared on both natural and artificial diets. In this study, an artificial diet for larvae was optimized by using a four-factor and three-level orthogonal design. Shrimp, pollen, lard, and honey were selected as the four key factors, and their effects on larval survival, development, and pupation were assessed. The results showed that an increased shrimp content of 21.85% in the diet could shorten developmental time and increase larval survival. Increased pollen content of 4.86% improved both pupation and survival, and a lard content of 3.03% shortened developmental time and increased survival and pupation success. The biological indices of ladybird larvae were optimal when honey content was 10.02%.

Elytral Polymorphism in Seven Spotted Ladybird Beetle <i>Coccinella septempunctata</i> L.

The existence of polymorphs in the seven spotted ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) when analysed revealed five morphs collected in different seasons. These were predating on sucking pests infesting cotton and wheat. The morphological characters including male genitalia were studied in these. The abundance of various morphs revealed morph 1 with maximum abundance (73.3%), and the frequency of the melanic forms increased with the decrease in temperature.

Evidence for intermolecular forces involved in ladybird beetle tarsal setae adhesion

Why can beetles such as the ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata walk vertically or upside-down on a smooth glass plane? Intermolecular and/or capillary forces mediated by a secretion fluid on the hairy footpads have commonly been considered the predominant adhesion mechanism. However, the main contribution of physical phenomena to the resulting overall adhesive force has yet to be experimentally proved, because it is difficult to quantitatively analyse the pad secretion which directly affects the adhesion mechanism. We observed beetle secretion fluid by using inverted optical microscopy and cryo-scanning electron microscopy, which showed the fluid secretion layer and revealed that the contact fluid layer between the footpad and substrate was less than 10–20 nm thick, thus indicating the possibility of contribution of intermolecular forces. If intermolecular force is the main physical phenomenon of adhesion, the force will be proportional to the work of adhesion, which can be described by the sum of the square roots of dispersive and polar parts of surface free energy. We measured adhesion forces of ladybird beetle footpads to flat, smooth substrates with known surface free energies. The adhesive force was proportional to the square-root of the dispersive component of the substrate surface free energy and was not affected by the polar component. Therefore, intermolecular forces are the main adhesive component of the overall adhesion force of the ladybird beetle. The footpads adhere more strongly to surfaces with higher dispersive components, such as wax-covered plant leaves found in the natural habitat of ladybird beetles. Based on the present findings, we assume ladybird beetles have developed this improved performance as an adaptation to the variety of plant species in its habitat.

Self-righting physiology of the ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata on surfaces with variable roughness

Insects such as cockroaches and locusts self-right swiftly to reduce chances of being attacked by predators. Compared to these insects, ladybirds have shorter legs hidden inside highly domed elytra so self-righting is of great challenge if using strategies of abdominal arching and/or leg swinging. Specifically, ladybirds live in over-ground environment with clusters of vegetation so they are prone to self-right from various natural substrates, such as soil, bark, and leaves. However, self-righting strategies under such complicated environment packed with multiple surfaces remain elusive. In this combined experimental and theoretical study, we examined and quantified self-righting physiology of ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata) on surfaces with varying roughness. Most ladybirds self-right in 15.00 s with a success rate of ~100.00% within 3 attempts using either legged or winged strategies, and the self-righting strategy is strongly associated with the surface roughness. Righting on a coarser board (Ra = 124.62 μm) is performed by swinging the legs to attach and hook the protrusions on the rough surface. However, if self-righting occurs on a smooth surface (Ra = 6.69 μm), both the elytra and hind wings deploy to alter the body orientation to roll over. Considering the effect of surface roughness, we analyzed the self-righting mechanism by a mathematical model, and uncovered that contact status between the claw and surface microstructures affected the arm of force required to self-right, which leads to the binary strategic selection. Our quantification of self-righting on diverse surfaces not only deepens understanding of ladybird’s self-righting but may inspire new means of evaluating its environmental adaptability.

Do neonicotinoids better than pyrethroids for Coccinella septempunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)? A comparative sub-lethal indirect age-stage, two-sex life tables laboratory bioassay

Insecticides are the most economic and quick tool to control harmful agricultural insect pests which reduce crop productivity. However, these insecticides have a suppressive and negative impact on non-targeted beneficial fauna. The efficiency and mode of action of numerous insecticides are also much diverse. Therefore, we studied the sublethal impact of bifenthrin (pyrethroids) and clothianidin (neonicotinoids) on ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), taking these insecticides as the model representative for the insecticide groups. Our results revealed that both insecticides enhanced the life length of male and female adults of ladybird beetle as compared to control treatment. Bifenthrin reduced the survival rate of larvae and adults as compared to clothianidin and control as well as lowered the fecundity rate of C. septempunctata. After control treatment, the developmental period of each larval instar was shorter in clothianidin than bifenthrin. Adult emergence was also less in clothianidin than in the control group. However, clothianidin triggered the fecundity of the female ladybird beetle. Higher fecundity was recorded in clothianidin treatment as compared to bifenthrin and control which means clothianidin is a better option in integrated pest management (IPM) program as compared to bifenthrin involving the ladybird beetle as a natural biocontrol agent.

Effect of gamma irradiation and subsequent cold storage on the development and predatory potential of seven spotted ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus (Coleoptera; Coccinellidae) larvae

Seven spot ladybird beetle, (Coccinella septempunctata) is a widely distributed natural enemy of soft-bodied insect pests especially aphids worldwide. Both the adult and larvae of this coccinellid beetle are voracious feeders and serve as a commercially available biological control agent around the globe. Different techniques are adopted to enhance the mass rearing and storage of this natural enemy by taking advantage of its natural ability to withstand under extremely low temperatures and entering diapause under unfavorable low temperature conditions. The key objective of this study was to develop a cost effective technique for enhancing the storage life and predatory potential of the larvae of C. septempunctata through cold storage in conjunction with the use of nuclear techniques, gamma radiations. Results showed that the host eating potential of larvae was enhanced as the cold storage duration was increased. Gamma irradiation further enhanced the feeding potential of larvae that were kept under cold storage. Different irradiation doses also affected the development time of C. septempuntata larvae significantly. Without cold storage, the lower radiation doses (10 and 25 GY) prolonged the developmental time as compared to un-irradiated larvae. Furthermore, the higher dose of radiation (50GY) increased the developmental time after removal from cold storage. This study first time paves the way to use radiation in conjunction with cold storage as an effective technique in implementation of different biological control approaches as a part of any IPM programs

Comparative analysis of the demographic parameters of seven spotted ladybird beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) reared on various host aphid species.

BackgroundThe demographic parameters of the predacious seven spotted ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) reared on the following four host aphid species were compared: Rhopalosiphum padi Linnaeus (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Rhopalosiphum maidis Fitch (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Sitobion avenae Fabricius (Hemiptera: Aphididae), and Schizaphis graminum Rondani (Hemiptera: Aphididae).MethodsThe developmental period, fecundity, adult preoviposition period, total preoviposition period and population parameters were evaluated based on the two-sex age-stage life table. The duration of the developmental stages and the population parameters were calculated with the TWOSEX-MSChart program, whereas population size was projected based on the two-sex age-stage life table data with the TIMING-MSChart program.ResultsThe intrinsic rate of increase (r) was the highest in the R. padi predators (0.1946 per day), followed by the S. graminum (0.1435 per day), S. avenae (0.1400 per day), and R. maidis (0.1180 per day) predators. The differences in the net reproductive rate (R0) and the finite rate of increase (λ) when C. septempunctata was reared on the four aphid species were consistent with the r values. This trend was reversed for the mean generation time (T), which ranged from 29.02 days for the lady beetles reared on R. padi to 39.75 days for the lady beetles reared on R. maidis. Interestingly, R. padi was the most suitable host, while the congeneric R. maidis was the least suitable. The results of this study may be useful for future investigations regarding the ecological effects of predatory species and the mass-production of C. septempunctata in the laboratory for an augmentative release of an aphid predator.

Aphids-induced plant volatiles affect diel foraging behavior of a ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata.

The ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata (L.) is an important biocontrol agent of pests such as various aphid species. Despite being one of the most studied coccinellid species, many aspects of its foraging behavior are still not completely understood. This study focuses on the diel foraging behavior of C. septempunctata, investigating their olfactory orientation toward aphid‐infested plants, walking activity on plants and on the soil, and feeding rates. In the scotophase the ladybird beetles were significantly more attracted to the odor of aphid‐infested plants, on which they also showed considerably higher walking activity then on uninfested controls. Females were more prone to utilize olfactory cues when searching for prey and fed at higher rates than males; this shows that they are better adapted to nocturnal activity, as they require higher food intake. Coccinella septempunctata have the same feeding rate during the scotophase as in the photophase. Our study shows that C. septempunctata has the potential to forage in the scotophase if prey is abundant. The results support the hypothesis that volatiles of aphid‐infested plants can attract or arrest foraging adult ladybird beetles, even in the darkness, which makes a considerable contribution to efficient prey search and enhances feeding capacity.

Bioaccumulation of cadmium, lead, and zinc in agriculture-based insect food chains.

Globally, the metal concentration in soil is increasing due to different anthropogenic and geogenic factors. These metals are taken up by plants and further transferred in the food chain through different routes. The present study was designed to assess the transfer and bioaccumulation of the heavy metals, cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn), in food chains from soil to berseem plants (Triofolium alexandrinum), to insect herbivores (the grasshopper Ailopus thalassinus and the aphid Sitobion avenae) and to an insect carnivore (the ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata). The soil of studied berseem fields were slightly alkaline, silty loam in texture and moderate in organic matter. In soil, the concentration of Zn and Pb were under permissible level while Cd was above the permissible level. The accumulation of metals in T. alexandrinum were found in the order Zn > Cd > Pb. Grasshoppers showed higher accumulation of Pb than of Cd and Zn. In the soil-berseem-aphid-beetle food chain, metal enrichment was recorded. However, aphids did not show bioaccumulation for Cd. Metals accumulation in beetles showed that translocation of Zn, Cd, and Pb was taking place in the third trophic level. Our study highlights the mobility of metals in insect food chains and showed that insect feeding style greatly influenced the bioaccumulation. However, different metals showed variable bioaccumulation rates depending on their toxicity and retention.

Growth and development of ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), on plant and animal based protein diets

Different protein sources from plant and animal origin viz., soybean flour (SF-AD) and soaked soybean (SS-AD), bee pollen (BP-AD), honey bee drone larvae (DL-AD) and frozen aphids (AF-AD) were assessed as an artificial diet of C. septempunctata in comparison to their natural diet live aphids. Highest growth index was obtained with SS-AD (4.05) diet almost similar to control (4.0), followed by SF-AD, BP-AD, DL-AD and AF-AD as 3.8, 2.4, 1.98 and 1.94 respectively. Similarly, data showed that success index of the adults fed on an artificial diet containing soybean (SS-AD=1.03, SF-AD=0.98) was almost similar to control (1.0), whereas the diets containing bee pollen, drone larvae, and frozen aphids was lower than control as 0.83, 0.84 and 0.78, respectively. Protein concentration was highest in live aphid (5.9μg/ml) diet followed by SS-AD (5.6), SF-AD (5.2), BP-AD (3.4), AF-AD (2.2) and DL AD (1.3). The results indicated that soybean based diets were more or equivalently suitable to beetles for their growth and development likewise their natural prey and the efficiency of artificial diets was related to its protein concentration.

Biological Attributes and Feeding Potential of Three Dominant Predators of Lipaphis erysimi

Basic biological attributes and feeding potential of three major predators viz ., the seven spotted lady bird beetle Coccinella septempunctata and two syrphids Episyrphus viridaureus and Betasyrphus isaaci , of mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi were studied under laboratory conditions. The predators were multiplied on mustard aphids reared on mustard plants. C. septempunctata , E. viridaureus and B. isaaci completed their life cycle in 68.5± 6.5 days, 47±2 and 41±2, respectively. C. septumpunctata completed the larval growth with four larval instars, while both the syrphids terminated the larval growth with three instars. Final instars of all the three predators were found to have highest predatory potential than the younger instars. C. septumpunctata was found to be the most dominant predator of mustard aphid with average lifetime consumption of 4312±537.74 aphids, followed by E. viridaureus (416.67±6.76 aphids) and B. isaaci (338±7.89 aphids). All the three predators have the potential to reduce the mustard aphids; however, C. septumpunctata has a maximum predatory potential with a longer life, which makes this species as an excellent bio-agent of L. erysimi and further research on their utilization on a large scale should be undertaken.

Sexual dimorphism in the attachment ability of the ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata on soft substrates

Many insects possess adhesive foot pads, which enable reliable attachment to diverse and unpredictable substrates. The function of these adhesive organs was shown to be affected by environmental conditions such as substrate roughness, chemistry, and ambient humidity. So far, the attachment ability of insects and also that of spiders and geckos has been tested on rigid substrates only. However, the natural habitats of climbing animals may provide a variety of substrate stiffness ranging from rigid rock surfaces to soft, biofilm covered substrates. In order to test the effect of different substrate stiffness on the attachment ability of insects, we have performed friction experiments with female and male ladybird beetles Coccinella septempunctata on smooth silicone elastomer substrates of different stiffness, using a centrifugal force tester. Whereas in females, the attachment ability was not affected by the substrate stiffness within the range of tested stiffness, males showed decreasing attachment ability with decreasing substrate stiffness. This sexual dimorphism in attachment ability is explained by the presence of a specialized, discoidal seta type in males, which is not present in females. It is argued that discoidal setae, when softer if compared to the substrate, may show an advantageous peak-free interfacial stress distribution when being pulled off the substrate. For such setae being stiffer if compared the substrate, they potentially show increased edge stress concentration. In this case, lower pull-off forces are expected, in agreement with the experimentally obtained results. With the present study, we demonstrate for the first time that the substrate stiffness may have an effect on the attachment ability of climbing animals, which may also be of relevance for technical and medical applications involving adhesion to soft substrates.

Complete mitochondrial genome sequence of a phytophagous ladybird beetle, Henosepilachna pusillanima (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Ladybird beetles are generally considered as agriculturally beneficial insects, but the ladybird beetles in the coleopteran subfamily Epilachninae are phytophagous and major plant feeding pest species which causes severe economic losses to cucurbitaceous and solanaceous crops. Henosepilachna pusillanima (Mulsant) is one of the important pest species of ladybird beetle. In this report, we sequenced and characterized the complete mitochondrial genome of H. pusillanima. For sequencing of the complete mitochondrial genome, we used the Ion Torrent sequencing platform. The complete circular mitochondrial genome of the H. pusillanima was determined to be 16,216 bp long. There were totally 13 protein coding genes, 22 transfer RNA, 2 ribosomal RNA and a control (A + T-rich) region estimated to be 1690 bp. The gene arrangement and orientations of assembled mitogenome were identical to the reported predatory ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata L. This is the first completely sequenced coleopteran mitochondrial genome from the beetle subfamily Epilachninae from India. Data generated in this study will benefit future comparative genomics studies for understanding the evolutionary relationships between predatory and phytophagous coccinellid beetles.

Evidence for a material gradient in the adhesive tarsal setae of the ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata

For an insect to be able to efficiently attach to surfaces, the adhesive pads on the distal parts of its legs must establish large contact areas. In case of hairy adhesive pads this requires flexibility of the contact-forming bristles, called adhesive tarsal setae. However, too flexible setae would have a low mechanical stability resulting in a decreased attachment ability of the pads. Here we show that the adhesive tarsal setae of the ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata feature pronounced gradients in the material composition and properties along their length. The Young's modulus ranges from 1.2 MPa at the tips, where we found the incorporation of high proportions of the elastic protein resilin, to 6.8 GPa at the bases of the setae. These gradients likely represent an evolutionary optimization, which increases the performance of the adhesive system by enabling effective adaptation to rough surfaces while simultaneously preventing lateral collapse of the setae.

Development of an Early-Tier Laboratory Bioassay for Assessing the Impact of Orally-Active Insecticidal Compounds on Larvae of <I>Coccinella septempunctata</I> (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Early-tier studies are the initial step in the environmental risk assessment of genetically engineered plants on nontarget arthropods. They are conducted in the laboratory where surrogate species are exposed to higher concentrations of the arthropod-active compound than those expected to occur in the field. Thus, early-tier tests provide robust data and allow to make general conclusions about the susceptibility of the surrogate to the test substance. We have developed an early-tier test for assessing the toxicity of orally-active insecticidal compounds to larvae of the ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Using potassium arsenate and the protease inhibitor E-64 as model compounds, we validated the bioassay set-up for C. septempunctata. Sucrose solution containing the test compound was offered to larvae for 24 h on the first day of each of its four larval instars. Subsequently, larvae were fed ad libitum with Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs. Both compounds negatively affected C. septempunctata larval survival and development, and adult weight, indicating that the bioassay setup was able to detect dietary effects of insecticidal substances on the ladybird. Power analyses revealed that sample sizes of 20 or 45 per treatment are sufficient to detect 50 or 20% differences between the control and treatment groups, respectively, for the various measurement endpoints.

INTEGRATION BETWEEN INSECT GROWTH INHIBITORS, TRIGARD AND Coccinella septempunctata (L.) IN CONTROLLING

Results of the integration study between insect growth inhibitors Trigard (Cyromazine 75% W.P.) and ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata (L.) in controlling black bean aphid, Aphis fabae (Scopoli), showed that Trigard exhibit a good effect in controlling Aphis fabae. The results also revealed the existence of variation in a predation efficiency of males and females of ladybird according to the treatment method and Trigard concentration, and showed that the highest average of males predation efficiency reached 56.8, and 53.5%, and for females 53.5, and 52.7% when the plant leaf treated by 0.15% Trigard concentration respectively. The results also showed a variation in average mortality percentage of Coccinella septempunctata (L.) males and females after five days from the treatment according to the treatment method and Trigard concentration, the highest mortality percentage in males and females were 47.3, and 43.2%, respectively when spraying Tigard at 0.5% concentration on plant leaf, Aphids and Ladybird together.

Cereal Aphid and Natural Enemy Populations in Cereal Production Systems in Eastern Washington

A 5 yr study in the semiarid wheat production region of eastern Washington documented the relative densities of pest aphids and their natural enemies in cereal production systems using on-farm replicated plots. The systems were reduced-tillage soft white winter wheat (SWW) (Triticum aestivum L.)—summer fallow rotation; no-till soft white spring wheat (SWS)—chemical fallow rotation; continuous no-till hard red spring wheat (HRS); and no-till HRS—no-till spring barley (SB) (Hordeum vulgare L.) rotation. The English grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (F.), was the dominant species, followed in abundance by the Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko). The bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.), and rose grass aphid, Metopolophium dirhodum (Walter), were infrequently encountered. Overall, aphid densities were low, with aphids rare or absent in SWW and SB plots. The data revealed no clear and consistent effects of cereal production systems on aphid densities, but it did reveal, based on analysis of data from continuous HRS plots, high among-year variability in S. avenae and D. noxia densities. Only in 1996 and only in continuous HRS was it necessary to chemically control damaging populations of D. noxia. English grain aphid densities never approached threshold levels. S. avenae parasitism averaged >16% in some spring wheat systems in 1998 and 2000, while only two mummified D. noxia were observed. Coccinellid beetle counts in all plots totaled 143 in 1998 and 163 in 2000, with 90.2% and 94.5% in the genus Hippodamia, respectively. The ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata L. comprised 9.8% (1998) and 5.5% (2000) of the populations. The results suggest that damaging aphid populations are unlikely to develop in winter wheat, but populations in spring cereals warrant monitoring because they fluctuate from year-to-year and can be damaging.