FIRST RECORD OF APHIDS (HEMIPTERA: APHIDIDAE) AND MICROHYMENOPTERA (HYMENOPTERA: BRACONIDAE AND ENCYRTIDAE) IN Vaccinium corymbosum (ERICACEAE) IN ARGENTINE

MARGARITA ROCCA; R. LA ROSSA; JUAN JOSÉ MARTINEZ; G. MAREGIANNI

Atenas, Grecia

Simposio; Ecology of Aphidophaga 10; 2007

One of the principal difficulties for the development of Vaccinium corymbosumVaccinium corymbosum (Ericaceae), the blueberry, in Argentine is the lack of knowledge about the principal diseases and pests which affects its production. Blueberry, whose crop began in 1990, occupies at present 3800 ha, distributed in regions with different climatic conditions, situation which affects not only the richness and variety of herbivores but also their interaction with natural enemies. Our objective was to analyze the diversity and density of aphids and their parasitoids in different localities: San Pedro (33º 40’ S – 59º 41’ W) and Colonia Urquiza (34º 40’ S – 59º 41’ W) (Buenos Aires), Concordia (Entre Ríos) (31º 19’ S – 58º 01’ W) and El Hoyo (Chubut) (42º 05’ S – 71º 29’ W). Once a month throughout 2006, sampling of leaves, buds and flowers was performed. Twenty plants per lot (two lots per field) were randomly selected and the samples, which included the aphids, the mummies and the parasitoids were taken to the laboratory. The mummies which did not have any emergence hole were put in individual Petri dishes to wait until the possible emergence of a parasitoid. The results indicate the presence of the Aphididae Aphis gossypii Glover in San Pedro, A. gossypii, the blueberry, in Argentine is the lack of knowledge about the principal diseases and pests which affects its production. Blueberry, whose crop began in 1990, occupies at present 3800 ha, distributed in regions with different climatic conditions, situation which affects not only the richness and variety of herbivores but also their interaction with natural enemies. Our objective was to analyze the diversity and density of aphids and their parasitoids in different localities: San Pedro (33º 40’ S – 59º 41’ W) and Colonia Urquiza (34º 40’ S – 59º 41’ W) (Buenos Aires), Concordia (Entre Ríos) (31º 19’ S – 58º 01’ W) and El Hoyo (Chubut) (42º 05’ S – 71º 29’ W). Once a month throughout 2006, sampling of leaves, buds and flowers was performed. Twenty plants per lot (two lots per field) were randomly selected and the samples, which included the aphids, the mummies and the parasitoids were taken to the laboratory. The mummies which did not have any emergence hole were put in individual Petri dishes to wait until the possible emergence of a parasitoid. The results indicate the presence of the Aphididae Aphis gossypii Glover in San Pedro, A. gossypiiAphis gossypii Glover in San Pedro, A. gossypii and A. spiraecola Patch in Colonia Urquiza and A. gossypii and A. spiraecola in Concordia. No aphids were present in these samples in El Hoyo, but in additional 2007 samples, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) was found. Microhymenoptera belonged to the following species: in San Pedro Aphidius colemani Viereck, Diaeretiella rapae (M’Intosh) and Lysiphlebus testaceipesA. spiraecola Patch in Colonia Urquiza and A. gossypii and A. spiraecola in Concordia. No aphids were present in these samples in El Hoyo, but in additional 2007 samples, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) was found. Microhymenoptera belonged to the following species: in San Pedro Aphidius colemani Viereck, Diaeretiella rapae (M’Intosh) and Lysiphlebus testaceipesMacrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas) was found. Microhymenoptera belonged to the following species: in San Pedro Aphidius colemani Viereck, Diaeretiella rapae (M’Intosh) and Lysiphlebus testaceipesAphidius colemani Viereck, Diaeretiella rapae (M’Intosh) and Lysiphlebus testaceipesViereck, Diaeretiella rapae (M’Intosh) and Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson), in Colonia Urquiza A. colemani, in El Hoyo Ephedrus plagiatorA. colemani, in El Hoyo Ephedrus plagiator (Nees) and A. ervi Haliday, all of them Braconidae, and the hiperparasitoidA. ervi Haliday, all of them Braconidae, and the hiperparasitoid Aphidencyrtus sp. (Encyrtidae) in Concordia. These data could help to elaborate management strategies, based on the knowledge of one of the principal aphid mortality causes. (Encyrtidae) in Concordia. These data could help to elaborate management strategies, based on the knowledge of one of the principal aphid mortality causes.