Alate alienicolae of approximately uniform size were obtained from healthy colonies of the same clone maintained in the laboratory at 18 ±5° C. on broad beans (Vicia faba L., var. Claudia Aquadulce). They were collected within \ hr. of the final ecdysis and kept for 24 hr. on young beans in the dark at 20° C. to complete their teneral development and become ready for flight (Taylor, 1957). The ...

One idea to explain the high incidence of specialisation in phytophagous insects is that their nervous systems are simple and unable to efficiently recognise multiple host plants. Here this 'neural limitations' hypothesis is tested using a generalist (the summer winged virginopara) and specialist (the autumn gynopara) morph of a single clone of the black bean aphid, Aphis fabae, that are almost...

Many aphids are known to engage in a trophic mutualism with ants, whereby the aphids secrete sugary-rich honeydew which is collected by the ants for food, and the ants, in exchange, protect the aphids against natural enemies. Previous results, however, suggest that the production of some of the honeydew sugars, such as the ant-attractant trisaccharide melezitose, may induce an indirect cost to ...

The toxicity of three insecticides to Lysiphlebus fabarum (Marshall) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae), a parasitoid of Aphis fabae Scopoli (Hemiptera: Aphididae), was investigated using IOBC/wprs protocols. Abamectin 1.8 EC, imidacloprid 350 SC, and pymetrozine 25 WP were tested under laboratory conditions at recommended field rates. Immature stages of the parasitoid were exposed to materi...

the black bean aphid, aphis fabae scopoli, is a major pest of broad bean, vicia faba l. and sugar beet, beta vulgaris l., the most abundant parasitoid of a. fabae in agroecosystems is lysiphlebus fabarum (marshall), a multivoltine species with mainly thelytokous reproduction in central europe. since l. fabarum females mimic ants to obtain honeydew directly from aphids it was reasoned that a fem...

the prey suitability for generalist predators is an important feature for efficient mass rearing and ipm. the green lacewing, chrysoperla carnea (stephens) is a polyphagous predator attacking several pests on various crops. this experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions at 25 ± 2 °c, 60 ± 5% r. h. and a photoperiod of 16l: 8d h. the effects of different prey species were investigated...