Biological Control of Insect Pests: Southeast Asian Prospects - EcoPort

IRAQ
ISRAEL
4.4 Aphis gossypii 65
days. Early in the season 9.4% of the aphids were parasitised, rising to a peak
of 64.6% two months later and resulting in suppression of the aphid
population. Trioxys indicus has a relatively narrow host range, which
includes A. gossypii, A. craccivora and the oleander aphid A. nerii. Up to
2.4% of the parasitoids were hyperparasitised by a cynipoid wasp. Singh and
Sinha (1983) concluded from these studies that T. indicus had most of the
necessary attributes of a potentially effective biological control agent for
A. craccivora and A. gossypii.
Ramaseshiah and Dharmadhikari (1969) found Aphelinus abdominalis
(= A. flavipes) to be one of the important parasitoids of A. gossypii in India;
furthermore, that Aphelinus sp. nr abdominalis had A. craccivora as a
preferred host, but also attacked A. gossypii.
Many generalist predators attack A. gossypii and other aphids in India,
and Agarwala and Saha (1986) record 8 species attacking it there on cotton.
Seven species of predatory coccinellid, 2 syrphids and a chrysopid were
recorded preying on A. gossypii on potatoes. Coccinella septempunctata and
Cheilomenes (= Menochilus) sexmaculata were the most important (Raj
1989). A. gossypii was reported to be controlled on sunflower by
coccinellids (Goel and Kumar 1990). The aphidophaghous coccinellid
Micraspis discolor showed a preference for A. craccivora (Agarwala et al.
1988).
The biology of the predatory Leucopis species (Diptera) attacking both
A. craccivora and A. gossypii on chrysanthemums is described by Kumar et
al. (1988). Larvae of Chrysopa orestes had a substantial effect on A. gossypii
on eggplant (Bhagat and Masoodi 1986).
Raychaudhuri et al. (1979) record three predatory spiders: Cyclosa
insulana (Araneidae) attacking A. craccivora and A. gossypii; Theridion sp.
(Theridiidae) attacking A. craccivora; and Uloborus sp. (Uloboridae)
attacking A. gossypii.
A. gossypii is parasitised on melons, cotton and okra by Lysiphlebus
fabarum which, in turn, is attacked by the hyperparasitoids Pachyneuron
aphidis (Pteromalidae), Dendrocerus (= Lygocerus) sp. (Megaspilidae),
Aphidencyrtus sp. (Encyrtidae) and Alloxysta (= Charips) sp. (Charipidae)
(Al-Azawi 1966).
A. gossypii occasionally infests citrus in the vicinity of cotton fields. Based
on small samples, it was found to be attacked by only one parasitoid, Trioxys
angelicae (Rosen 1967a,b).