Mass releases of two parasitoid species, Aphidius matricariae and Ephedrus cerasicola, may provide an alternative measure to pesticides control the rosy apple aphid Dysaphis plantaginea in organic orchards. As exploratory study, we tested if presence flower strips between tree rows could improve action three early releases––and other naturally present enemies––on colonies number aphids per tree...

The use of alternative hosts imposes divergent selection pressures on parasitoid populations. In response to selective pressures, these populations may follow different evolutionary trajectories. Divergent natural selection could promote local host adaptation in populations, translating into direct benefits for biological control, thereby increasing their effectiveness on the target host. Alter...

BACKGROUND Parasitoids are frequently used in biological control due to the fact that they are considered host specific and highly efficient at attacking their hosts. As they spend a significant part of their life cycle within their hosts, feeding habits and life history of their host can promote specialization via host-race formation (sequential radiation). The specialized host races from diff...

aLaboratório de Entomologia Aplicada – LEA, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Carlos – UFSCar, Rodovia Washington Luis, Km 235, s/n, CP 676, CEP 13565-905, São Carlos, SP, Brazil bLaboratório de Biodiversidade de Insetos – LABI, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Espírit...