Presence of the aphid, Chaetosiphon fragaefolli, on strawberry in Argentina.

CÉDOLA, C.V.; GRECO, N.M.

Journal of Insect Science

Digital Collections Center

Lugar: Wisconsin; Año: 2008

1536-2442

Seasonal abundance of the strawberry aphid complex under different agronomic practices in the outskirts of La Plata, Argentina was studied. Aphid densities were low in strawberry fields in which insecticides and fungicides were used.  In addition to Aphis gossypii, Aphis fabae, Mysus persicae and Macrosiphum euphorbiae, the aphid Chaetosiphon fragaefolii was recorded for the first time in this horticultural area. Life history and some demographic parameters were calculated for these species. Mean duration of nymphal stages was 10.44 days, oviposition period was 11.8 days, and mean number of nymph/female/day was 2.4 ± 0.3. Demographic parameters analyzed were: Ro = 14.55 ± 0.096 nymph/female, T=16.91 ± 0.035 days and rm = 0.158 ± (0,004).  No parasitism was found on C. fragaefolli but Entomophthora planchionana Cornu (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales) was the main mortality factor. Although aphids are not the main pests in strawberry fields, C. fragaefolli can be a serious sanitary problem. Greater knowledge of life traits and mortality factors is needed in order to design appropriate control strategies.