General comments about aphid biological control

Aphid advantages:

Rapid colonization (winged forms) followedby rapid reproduction (wingless forms)

The aphid’s best defense is its reproductive rateResults in a ‘threshold effect’:Replacement rate > predation rate = biocontrol failure

Effective biological control requires the timely recruitmentof multiple natural enemy species

New aphid invasions normally have 3 phases: Epidemic phase, Attenuation phase, Endemic phase

Eventually (5 – 30 years?), natural biological control evolves and theaphid becomes a sporadic problem associated with BC disruption

How (partially) resistant varieties reduce losses to aphids

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Resistant varieties require the support of biological control

Natural Enemies Groups Important in Aphid Biocontrol

Coccinellidae (lady beetles)

Chrysopidae (green lacewings)

Hemiptera: (predatory bugs)

Braconidae (aphidiine wasps)

Aphelinus spp. (aphelinid wasps)Chamaemyiidae (aphid flies)

Syrphidae (hover flies)

Hemerobidae (brown lacewings)Anthocoridae (flower bugs)Nabidae (damsel bugs)

Entomopathogens (humid conditions only)

Primary groups

Secondary groups

Coccinellidae: Hippodamia convergens

• High aphid consumption / reproductive rate• Drought tolerant• Capable of extended summer diapause (survives aphid scarcity)• Uses a wide range of plant resources as supplementary food• Good overwintering survival in severe winter conditions• Lab research shows M. sacchari is as suitable as greenbug for

both development and reproduction of H. convergens

Numerical response of H. convergens to M. sacchari

Coccinellidae: Coccinella septempunctata (C7)

• A true aphid specialist (larvae develop ONLY on aphid food)• A large and voracious species • Not a native species – introduced from Europe• Widely distributed in NA• Second most abundant species on the High Plains (after Hcon)

Coccinellidae: Harmonia axyridis (Asian multicolored LB)

• Another exotic invader – from Asia• A large, voracious species with a broad diet range • Pest status (fruit crops and house invasions)• Also a strong competitor and intraguild predator• Normally arboreal - prefers trees to herbaceous plants• Has played an integral role in controlling soybean aphid• Relatively rare on the High Plains compared to other invaded habitats

Coccinellidae: Cycloneda sanguinea (Blood-red LB)

• A subtropical species, largely arboreal• Not capable of hibernation or surviving hard freezes • Valuable in citrus for controlling aphids and psyllids• Related species, Cycloneda munda, has more northern distribution • However, C. munda has become increasing rare• Neither species of Cycloneda will contribute much to SCA control

Coccinellidae: Olla v-nigrum (Ash gray ladybeetle)

• Another arboreal, largely subtropical species• Widely distributed in the lower 48 states and into Canada • Valuable in citrus for controlling aphids and psyllids• Not likely to contribute much to SCA control Melanic form

Chilocorus stigma

Olla v-nigrum

C. septempunctata

Coccinellidae: Coleomegilla maculata (12 spot ladybeetle)

• A common species with a very wide range of prey• Very omnivorous - an complete development on pollen only• Widely distributed across all North America • Has a very high water demand in both adult and larval stages• Not very abundant in arid regions of the High Plains• Lab studies show SCA is highly suitable prey• Could contribute to SCA control in wetter regions

Coccinellidae: Scymnus sp. (no common name)

• Several small species, all with waxy larvae• Not very voracious, but able to forage on ant-tended aphids• Widely distributed across all North America • Not very abundant in arid regions of the High Plains• Will not contribute much to SCA control

Chrysopidae: Chrysoperla carnea (green lacewing)

• An important aphid predator in cereal cropsthroughout North America

• Preys on many soft bodied insects • Strong intraguild predator• Lab studies show SCA is suitable prey,

Although not as good as greenbug• Will be a key player in SCA biocontrol throughout

the High Plains

No. of natural enemy arthropod-days, by life stageCohort 1 Cohort 2

Natural enemies Life stage GB SCA GB SCA

Aphelinus sp. adults 0 4 8 4

mummies 22 41 771 319

Chamaemyiidae larvae 0 24 0 0

Chrysoperla carnea adults 3 12 10 34

eggs 194 609 204 401

larvae 3 19 35 97

Coccinellidae adults 0 3 58 64

egg masses 0 8 2 97

larvae 0 77 2 24

Erythraeus sp. (mite) nymphs 12 5 0 0

Hemerobiidae adults 0 0 0 1

eggs 0 181 0 0

C. carnea was the only dominant species equally present in both cohorts

Chrysopidae: Ceraeochrysa sp. (trash bug)

• Most trash-carrying lacewings are arboreal and subtropical or tropical

• Important in controlling aphids and psyllids in citrus • Not likely to contribute much to SCA biocontrol

Hemerobiidae: Hemerobius sp. (brown lacewing)

• Most brown lacewings are primarily arboreal • Larvae have very cryptic behavior• Eggs are NOT laid on stalks• Not likely to contribute much to SCA biocontrol

although recruitment has been observed near trees

Pseudodorus clavatus

• A common subtropical species • Larvae are bristled, almost transparent, variable in color

Syrphidae

• Highly specialized aphid predators• Hover flies use both olfactory and visual cues to find aphids• Often the first predators to oviposit on aphid colonies (while they are small)• Adults require flowers sources of POLLEN and NECTAR• Impact is limited in large-scale monocultures with aggressive weed control

Syrphidae: Allograpta obliqua

• Widely distributed in North America • Contributes to control of citrus psyllids• Larvae are smooth, lime green, with two longitudinal white stripes

Allograpta obliqua and M. sacchari

No. of natural enemy arthropod-days, by life stage

Cohort 1 Cohort 2Life stage GB SCA GB SCA

Lysiphlebus sp. adults 2 5 0 0

mummies 47 0 771 0

Orius insidiosus adults 0 0 39 11

nymphs 0 0 104 22

Syrphidae adults 5 9 0 0

eggs 1308 1626 13 37

larvae 631 1278 33 60

pupae 0 5 0 1

Conclusion: There were greater differences between cohorts than between aphid species

Syrphidae: Other spp.

Various large, voracious species, widely distributed in North America

Syrphus opinator(male)

Helophilus fasciatus(female)

Larva of Syrphus sp.

Aphelinidae: Aphelinus spp.

• Aphid specialists • Small, slow-moving wasps kill aphids by host-feeding and parasitism• Only small instar aphids are attacked• Synovigenic, low fecundity, but long-lived (able to resorb eggs)• Can be important against certain aphid species (e.g. wooly apple aphid)• Not likely to contribute much to SCA control• BUT – unaffected by aphid secondary symbionts that protect against Braconids

Braconidae: Lysiphlebus testaceipes

• Tribe Aphidiinae: all aphid specialists, but L. testaceipes has broad host range• Most significant parasitoid of cereal aphids on the High Plains• Can attack 1st-4th instar aphids, 2nd instars preferred• Moderately proovigenic, high fecundity, but short-lived• Does not overwinter north of OK / KS border on the High Plains• Could be significant factor in SCA control in overwintering areas• BUT – some SCA clones are infected with secondary symbionts

Hamiltonella defensa, that protect them against parasitism

DNA tests revealed our clone of M. sacchari was infected withHamiltonella defensa, a secondary endosymbiont of aphids

Hamiltonella defensa is known to protect various aphid speciesfrom parasitism by braconid (Aphidiinae) parasitoids

Laboratory trials suggested ca. 100% protection from L. testacipes

How widespread are H. defensa infections in SCA populations?

Infections could affect levels of biocontrolobtained in overwintering sites in the south

Are there physiological costs of infection ?What is the heritability of the symbiont ?What is the frequency of transmission ?

Chamaemyiidae: Leucopis sp. (aphid flies)

• Feed on aphids and scale insects• Prefer edge habitats• Not strong fliers

Anthocoridae: Orius insidiosus (insidious flower bug)

• Generalist, omnivorus predators of small soft-bodied insects• Eggs laid into plant stems, nymphs consume plant tissues + prey• Feed readily on aphids, but prefer thrips• Lab studies reveal SCA is suitable prey for O. insidiosus, if not optimal• O. insidiosus seems to be abundant in Sorghum fields• Could contribute significant SCA – has been significant against soybean aphid

No. of natural enemy arthropod-days, by life stage

Cohort 1 Cohort 2Life stage GB SCA GB SCA

Lysiphlebus sp. adults 2 5 0 0

mummies 47 0 771 0

Orius insidiosus adults 0 0 39 11

nymphs 0 0 104 22

Syrphidae adults 5 9 0 0

eggs 1308 1626 13 37

larvae 631 1278 33 60

pupae 0 5 0 1

Conclusion: There were greater differences between cohorts than between aphid species

Verticillium (Lecanicillium) (entomopathogens)

• Requires high humidity and prolonged periods of leaf wetness to produce epizootics

• Require high aphid populations to spread • Can result in rapid collapse of aphid colonies under suitable conditions• Most of the High plains is far too dry for aphid entomopathogens

Whiteflies killed by V. lecanii Aphids killed by V. lecanii