Aphids predators

Look out for aphids on young shoots and leaves from spring onward. Squash these by hand or spray with insecticidal soap. Sow flowers to attract aphid predators (see p.95). 

The currant aphid can colonize the undersides of leaves from bud-burst onward. Encourage aphid predators. 

Biological Controls Nature s Control P. O. Box 35 Medford, OR 97501 541-899-8318 0.50 Catalog Encarsia formosa (whitefly parasite) Aphidoletes aphidimyza (aphid predator) Yellow Sticky Traps (whitefly control)... 

Lohman, D. J., Liao, Q. and Pierce, N.E. (2006). Convergence of chemical mimicry in a guild of aphid predators. Ecol. Entomol., 31, 41-51. 

Hogervorst, P.A.M., Ferry, N., Gatehouse, A.M.R., Wackers, F.L., and Romeis, J., Direct effects of snowdrop lectin (GNA) on larvae of three aphid predators and fate of GNA after ingestion, J. Insect Physiol., 52, 614-624, 2006. 

The larvae lay their eggs individually in aphid and leafsucker colonies. The larvae are headless and are greenish, reddish and brownish in colour. They are voracious and are one of the most important aphid predators. 

Woolly aphid predator wasp up to 90% parasitization in autumn... 

Watch for natural aphid predators such as ladybird beetles or housefly larvae on each stem under observation. Record kind and numbers. 

Aphid parasites Aphidius matricariae, Lysiphlebus testaceipes, other species Apple aphids, green peach aphids, melon aphids, others. Release 50-100 pupae of these parasitic wasps in a garden or small greenhouse early in spring. Experimental best effect if used with aphid predators. 

A more successful application of terpenes in crop protection has been found with the development of (4aS,7S,7aK)-nepetalactone 40 from catmint as an insect attractant. As well as luring male aphids, nepetalactone serves as an attractant to numerous aphid predators such as lacewings (Birkett Pickett 2003). Formulations of catmint oil distillate, impregnated into a polymer which releases nepetalactone over a period of months, are now commercially available. This represents the first example of plant cultivation on a large scale for insect pheromone production - less than 35 tonnes of plant material yield over 301 of nepetalactone-rich oil at a production cost of approximately l/g. 

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