Hymenopteran Parasitoids of Aphid Pests within Australian Grain Production Landscapes
In grain crops, aphids are important pests, but they can be suppressed by hymenopteran parasitoids. A challenge in incorporating parasitoids into Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, however, is that parasitoid numbers can be low during periods within the season when aphids are most damaging....
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/1/44 |
| _version_ | 1797414526578065408 |
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| author | Samantha E. Ward Paul A. Umina Sarina Macfadyen Ary A. Hoffmann |
| author_facet | Samantha E. Ward Paul A. Umina Sarina Macfadyen Ary A. Hoffmann |
| author_sort | Samantha E. Ward |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In grain crops, aphids are important pests, but they can be suppressed by hymenopteran parasitoids. A challenge in incorporating parasitoids into Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, however, is that parasitoid numbers can be low during periods within the season when aphids are most damaging. Understanding the population dynamics of key aphid species and their parasitoids is central to ameliorating this problem. To examine the composition and seasonal trends of both aphid and parasitoid populations in south-eastern Australia, samples were taken throughout the winter growing seasons of 2017 and 2018 in 28 fields of wheat and canola. <i>Myzus persicae</i> (Sulzer) was the most abundant aphid species, particularly within canola crops. Across all fields, aphid populations remained relatively low during the early stages of crop growth and increased as the season progressed. Seasonal patterns were consistent across sites, due to climate, crop growth stage, and interactions between these factors. For canola, field edges did not appear to act as reservoirs for either aphids or parasitoids, as there was little overlap in the community composition of either, but for wheat there was much similarity. This is likely due to the presence of similar host plants within field edges and the neighbouring crop, enabling the same aphid species to persist within both areas. <i>Diaeretiella rapae</i> (M’Intosh) was the most common parasitoid across our study, particularly in canola, yet was present only in low abundance at field edges. The most common parasitoid in wheat fields was <i>Aphidius matricariae</i> (Haliday), with field edges likely acting as a reservoir for this species. Secondary parasitoid numbers were consistently low across our study. Differences in parasitoid species composition are discussed in relation to crop type, inter-field variation, and aphid host. The results highlight potential focal management areas and parasitoids that could help control aphid pests within grain crops. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:34:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8b4276c49f6c46a7be93a6bc1d48ee01 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:34:35Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-8b4276c49f6c46a7be93a6bc1d48ee012023-12-03T12:30:07ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502021-01-011214410.3390/insects12010044Hymenopteran Parasitoids of Aphid Pests within Australian Grain Production LandscapesSamantha E. Ward0Paul A. Umina1Sarina Macfadyen2Ary A. Hoffmann3Bio21 Institute, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, AustraliaBio21 Institute, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, AustraliaCSIRO Entomology, Black Mountain, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, AustraliaBio21 Institute, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, AustraliaIn grain crops, aphids are important pests, but they can be suppressed by hymenopteran parasitoids. A challenge in incorporating parasitoids into Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, however, is that parasitoid numbers can be low during periods within the season when aphids are most damaging. Understanding the population dynamics of key aphid species and their parasitoids is central to ameliorating this problem. To examine the composition and seasonal trends of both aphid and parasitoid populations in south-eastern Australia, samples were taken throughout the winter growing seasons of 2017 and 2018 in 28 fields of wheat and canola. <i>Myzus persicae</i> (Sulzer) was the most abundant aphid species, particularly within canola crops. Across all fields, aphid populations remained relatively low during the early stages of crop growth and increased as the season progressed. Seasonal patterns were consistent across sites, due to climate, crop growth stage, and interactions between these factors. For canola, field edges did not appear to act as reservoirs for either aphids or parasitoids, as there was little overlap in the community composition of either, but for wheat there was much similarity. This is likely due to the presence of similar host plants within field edges and the neighbouring crop, enabling the same aphid species to persist within both areas. <i>Diaeretiella rapae</i> (M’Intosh) was the most common parasitoid across our study, particularly in canola, yet was present only in low abundance at field edges. The most common parasitoid in wheat fields was <i>Aphidius matricariae</i> (Haliday), with field edges likely acting as a reservoir for this species. Secondary parasitoid numbers were consistently low across our study. Differences in parasitoid species composition are discussed in relation to crop type, inter-field variation, and aphid host. The results highlight potential focal management areas and parasitoids that could help control aphid pests within grain crops.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/1/44agriculturegrainsAphididaeAphidiinae<i>Diaeretiella rapae</i>natural enemies |
| spellingShingle | Samantha E. Ward Paul A. Umina Sarina Macfadyen Ary A. Hoffmann Hymenopteran Parasitoids of Aphid Pests within Australian Grain Production Landscapes Insects agriculture grains Aphididae Aphidiinae <i>Diaeretiella rapae</i> natural enemies |
| title | Hymenopteran Parasitoids of Aphid Pests within Australian Grain Production Landscapes |
| title_full | Hymenopteran Parasitoids of Aphid Pests within Australian Grain Production Landscapes |
| title_fullStr | Hymenopteran Parasitoids of Aphid Pests within Australian Grain Production Landscapes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hymenopteran Parasitoids of Aphid Pests within Australian Grain Production Landscapes |
| title_short | Hymenopteran Parasitoids of Aphid Pests within Australian Grain Production Landscapes |
| title_sort | hymenopteran parasitoids of aphid pests within australian grain production landscapes |
| topic | agriculture grains Aphididae Aphidiinae <i>Diaeretiella rapae</i> natural enemies |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/1/44 |
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