Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T03:06:43.737Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

POPULATION DYNAMICS OF THE CABBAGE APHID, BREVICORYNE BRASSICAE (HOMOPTERA: APHIDIDAE) AT VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA: IV. PREDATION BY APHIDOLETES APHIDIMYZA (DIPTERA: CECIDOMYIIDAE)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

D. A. Raworth
D. A. Raworth
Affiliation:
Research Station, Agriculture Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1X2
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Predation of the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.), by the cecidomyiid Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rond.) was studied in the laboratory and the field. Predation was random with respect to aphid instar, and predation rate was constant with respect to aphid density. A. aphidimyza consumed 1.7 times more aphids in the laboratory than in the field during larval development. When aphid weight and age distribution were accounted for, it was found that the same biomass, 2.14 mg, was eaten in both cases.

The pupal developmental temperature threshold for A. aphidimyza was 9.2 °C. The developmental times of the egg, larval and pupal stages, and complete life cycle were 32°, 66°, 171°, and 283°D9.2. In the field, there was at least 5 times more food available on individual leaves than was necessary for larval development, suggesting that female A. aphidimyza took care to place their eggs where there was sufficient food for larval development.

The numerical response of A. aphidimyza to aphid density was calculated using sample data from three field plots. The response between plots was not statistically different.

The implications of using prey weight rather than number to measure predator consumption, and biological control of aphids by A. aphidimyza, are discussed.

Résumé

La prédation du puceron du chou, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.), par le cécidomyidé Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rond.) a été étudiée en laboratoire et sur le terrain. Les captures se faisaient au hasard, indépendamment du stade larvaire, et le taux de prédation demeurait constant, indépendamment de la densité des pucerons. A. aphidimyza consommait 1.7 fois plus de pucerons en laboratoire que sur le terrain durant le développement larvaire. En tenant compte du poids des pucerons et de la répartition des âges, nous avons constaté que la même biomasse, soit 2.14 mg, était consommée dans les deux cas.

La température qui déclenchait le développement des pupes d'A. aphidimyza était de 9.2 °C. Le temps de développement de l'oeuf, de la larve et de la pupe ainsi que le cycle biologique complet étaient de 32, 66, 171 et 283°J9,2. Sur le terrain, il y avait au moins cinq fois plus de nourriture disponible sur les feuilles prises individuellement que ce qui était nécessaire au développement larvaire, ce qui laisse entendre que la femelle d'A. aphidimyza prenait soin de déposer ses oeufs là où il en avait suffisamment pour assurer la croissance des larves.

Les implications de l'utilisation du poids des proies plutôt que de leur nombre pour mesurer la consommation des prédateurs ainsi que le recours à la lutte biologique contre les pucerons livrée par A. aphidimyza sont discutées.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 116 , Issue 6 , June 1984 , pp. 889 - 893
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1984

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adams, R. G. and Prokopy, R. J.. 1980. Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani) (Diptera:Cecidomyiidae): an effective predator of the apple aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) in Massachusetts. Protection Ecol. 2: 27–39.Google Scholar
Dunn, J. A. 1949. The parasites and predators of potato aphids. Bull. ent. Res. 40: 97–122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harris, K. M. 1973. Aphidophagous Cecidomyiidae (Diptera): taxonomy, biology and assessments of field populations. Bull. ent. Res. 63: 305–325.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jensen, D. R., Beus, G. B., and Storm, G.. 1968. Simultaneous statistical tests on categorical data. J. exp. Educ. 36: 46–56.Google Scholar
LeFevre, V. F. and Adams, R. G.. 1982. Bibliography of the aphid predator, Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Bull. ent. Soc. Am. 82: 129–133.Google Scholar
Markkula, M., Tiittanen, K.Hämäläinen, M., and Forsberg, A.. 1979. The aphid midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) and its use in biological control of aphids. Ann. Ent. Fenn. 45: 89–98.Google Scholar
Pollard, E. 1969. The effect of removal of arthropod predators on an infestation of Brevicoryne brassicae (Hemiptera, Aphididae) on Brussels sprouts. Entomologia exp. appl. 12: 118–124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raworth, D. A. 1984. Population dynamics of the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (Homoptera: Aphididae) at Vancouver, British Columbia. II. Development, fecundity, and longevity. Can. Ent. 116: 871–878.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raworth, D. A., Frazer, B. D., Gilbert, N., and Wellington, W. G.. 1984 a. Population dynamics of the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (Homoptera: Aphididae) at Vancouver, British Columbia. I. Sampling methods and population trends. Can. Ent. 116: 861–870.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raworth, D. A., McFarlane, S.Gilbert, N., and Frazer, B. D.. 1984 b. Population dynamics of the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (Homoptera: Aphididae) at Vancouver, British Columbia. III. Development, fecundity, and morph determination vs. aphid density and plant quality. Can. Ent. 116: 879–888.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Uygun, N. 1971. Der Einfluss der Nahrungsmenge auf Fruchtbarkeit und Lebensdauer von Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rond.) (Diptera: Itonididae). Z. angew. Ent. 69: 234–258.CrossRefGoogle Scholar