Introduction and population fluctuation of corn aphids and their natural enemies in Moghan region, Iran
Subject Areas :
Keywords: Population fluctuation, Predator, parasitoid, Aphids, natural control,
Abstract :
A study was conducted during 2012 to investigate corn aphids and their fluctuation in Moghan region, north east of Iran. Weekly randomized samplings were applied on 40 plant species by means of shaking the plants above insect collecting tray. Aphids and natural enemies were counted separately. Mummified aphids were collected for rearing in laboratory. Some of the natural enemies were collected by insect sweeping net in corn fileds. As a result, three aphids, Aphis fabae Scopoli, Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch) and Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) were identified. Collection and rearing of aphids natural enemies lead to obtain 14 following species: Coccinellidae: Coccinella septempunctata L. Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) Oenopia conglobata (L.) Propylea quatuordecimpuctata (L.) Syrphidae: Syrphus ribesii (L.) Episyrphus balteatusDe Geer Paragus bicolor (Fabricus) Anthocoridae: Orius sp. Lygaeidae: Geocoris sp. Nabidae: Nabis sp. Chrysopidae: Chrysoperla carnea(Stephens) Aphelinidae: Aphelinus varipes Förster Aphelinus flaviventris Kurdjumov Encyrtidae: Syrphophagus aphidivorus (Mayr) Within collected species, Alloxysta sp. (Hym.: Figitidae), Diplazon laetatorius(Fabricus)(Hym.: Ichneumonidae) and Homalotylus platynaspidis Hoffer (Hym.: Encyrtidae) were reported as paratsitoids of Aphelinus spp., syrphid flies and coccinellids, respectively.