Population fluctuations of aphid pests and their insect predators on four different crops at Ismailia government [electronic resource].

Includes references.

This study aimed to investigate the population fluctuations of aphids and their associated insect predators in alfalfa, faba bean, cantaloupe fields as well as apricot orchards at Ismailia Governorate for two successive seasons. Data indicated that four aphid species were surveyed including Aphis craccivora Koch, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harr.) on alfalfa plants, A. craccivora on faba bean stands, Aphis gossypii Glov. on cantaloupe plants and Hyalopterus pruni (Geof.) on apricot trees. The recorded aphidophagous predators were Hippodamia variegata (Goeze), Coccinella undecimpunctata Linn., Coccinella septempunctata Linn. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Chrysoperla carnea (Steph.) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), Syrphus corollae Fabr. (Diptera: Syrphidae) and Orius albidipennis (Reut.) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae). Obviously, coccinellid predators were the dominant predators associated with aphid infestations on all studied crops and H. variegata was the most abundant predator in all surveyed plants. Data showed complete synchronization between aphids populations and their associated predators during the course of this study.

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