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THE DYNAMICS OF APHIS POMI DE GEER (HOMOPTERA: APHIDIDAE) AND ITS PREDATOR, APHIDOLETES APHIDIMYZA (RONDANI) (DIPTERA: CECIDOMYIIDAE), ON APPLE IN NOVA SCOTIA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Heather C. Stewart
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 451
Sandra J. Walde
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 451

Abstract

The dynamics of Aphis pomi De Geer (Homoptera: Aphididae) and its predator, Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), were studied over two seasons in a commercial apple orchard in Nova Scotia. Aphid and predator population dynamics were very different in the two seasons. The most numerous predator in both years was A. aphidimyza. This predator was found in the earliest colonies sampled each season and was present throughout the growing season. In the year with relatively high aphid densities a single peak in aphid and predator density was seen in mid-July, just prior to maximum predation rate. The predator’s numerical response resulted in delayed density dependence in predation rate. In the year of low aphid densities, predator and prey dynamics appeared uncoupled, and a higher rate of colony turnover may have been caused by other predators such as mirids. Aphidoletes aphidimyza tended to aggregate oviposition in high-density aphid colonies, but this aggregation resulted in predation that was only very weakly spatially density dependent.

Résumé

La dynamique d’Aphis pomi De Geer et de son prédateur, Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani), a été étudiée durant deux saisons dans un verger de pommiers de Nouvelle-Écosse. La dynamique des populations de pucerons et de prédateurs a été très différente au cours des deux saisons. Le prédateur le plus abondant au cours des 2 années a été A. aphidimyza. Cet insecte se retrouvait dans les colonies les plus hâtives échantillonnées chaque saison et était présent durant toute la saison de croissance. L’année où la densité des pucerons a été relativement élevée, un seul pic de densité a été observé chez les pucerons et les prédateurs, à la mi-juillet, juste avant que ne soit enregistré le plus haut taux de prédation. La réponse numérique du prédateur a entraîné un taux de prédation relié à la densité avec décalage. L’année où la densité des pucerons a été faible, la dynamique des prédateurs et celle des proies ne semblaient pas reliées et le taux plus élevé de remplacement observé au sein de la colonie est sans doute attribuable à d’autres prédateurs, tels les Miridae. Aphidoletes aphidimyza avait tendance à pondre en groupe au sein des colonies de pucerons de haute densité, mais ces rassemblements donnaient lieu à une prédation dont la dépendance spatiale à l’égard de la densité n’était que très faible.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1997

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