Thermal activity thresholds of parasitoids Aphidius avenae and Aphidius gifuensis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): implications for their efficacy as biological control agents in the same location

Authors

  • Yingjie Liu Shandong Agricultural University, Department of Entomology, Taian, 271018, P.R. China
  • Jie Dong Shandong Agricultural University, Department of Entomology, Taian, 271018, P.R. China
  • Baojie Chi Shandong Agricultural University, Department of Entomology, Taian, 271018, P.R. China
  • Yong Liu Shandong Agricultural University, Department of Entomology, Taian, 271018, P.R. China

Keywords:

thermal tolerance, biocontrol potential, aphid

Abstract

Aphid parasitoids are important components in biological control of aphid populations in a variety of crop systems. Aphidius avenae Haliday and Aphidius gifuensis Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) are key biological control agents for Sitobion avenae (F.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), which causes serious damage to wheat worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate their parasitic potentials focusing on their thermal biological characteristics in a temperate area. Based on supercooling temperature recording techniques, the freezing point, minimum temperature for walking, and the temperature for activity recovery after chill coma of A. gifuensis females (−19.8, −5.1, and 5.9 °C, respectively) were significantly lower than those of A. avenae (−18.1, −3.3, and 7.8 °C, respectively). The results showed that A. gifuensis had lower temperature tolerance compared with A. avenae, illuminating that it could take precedence in suppressing population growth of S. avenae when aphid colonies were still small in early spring.

 

Resumen

Los parasitoides de áfidos son componentes importantes en el control biológico de las poblaciones de áfidos en variedades de sistemas de cultivo. Aphidius avenae Haliday y Aphidius gifuensis Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) son agentes clave de control biológico de Sitobion avenae (F.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), que causa daños graves al trigo en todo el mundo. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar sus potenciales como parásitos enfocandose en sus características biológicas térmicas en una área templada. Sobre la base de la técnica de grabación del sobre-enfriamiento de temperatura, el punto de congelación, la temperatura mínima para caminar y la temperatura para la recuperación de la actividad después del efecto decoma por frío de hembras de A. gifuensis (-19.8, -5.1 y 5.9 ° C, respectivamente) fueron significativamente inferiores a los de A. avenae (-18,1, -3,3, y 7,8 ° C, respectivamente). Los resultados mostraron que A. gifuensis tenía más baja tolerancia a la temperatura en comparación con A. avenae, revelando que podría prevalecer en la supresión del crecimiento de la población de S. avenae cuando las colonias de áfidos fueron todavía pequeñas en al principio de la primavera.

 

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Author Biographies

Yingjie Liu, Shandong Agricultural University, Department of Entomology, Taian, 271018, P.R. China

Department of Entomology

College of Plant Protection

Jie Dong, Shandong Agricultural University, Department of Entomology, Taian, 271018, P.R. China

Department of Entomology

College of Plant Protection

Baojie Chi, Shandong Agricultural University, Department of Entomology, Taian, 271018, P.R. China

Department of Entomology

College of Plant Protection

Yong Liu, Shandong Agricultural University, Department of Entomology, Taian, 271018, P.R. China

Department of Entomology

College of Plant Protection

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Published

2016-12-31

Issue

Section

Research Papers