Honeydew production by the Giant Willow Aphid (Tuberolachnus salignus, Hemiptera: Aphididae) and its effect on foraging yellowjackets (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

MARTINEZ ANDRES; BUTELER, MICAELA; VILLACIDE, JOSE; MARIA NOEL SERRA; MASCIOCCHI, MAITÉ

PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE

JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD

Lugar: LOndres; Año: 2023

1526-498X

BACKGROUND: Understanding the factors thatpromote the success of invasive species is important for managing biologicalinvasions. Interactions between invasives and other species (e.g., competitors,pathogens, or predators), could favor or limit their success. In recentdecades, yellowjacket wasps, including Vespulagermanica and V. vulgaris, have successfullyestablished in Patagonia. Additionally, the invasive willow Salix fragilis has invaded areas next towatercourses, which in turn are typically colonized by the giant willow aphid(GWA, Tuberolagnus salignus), anadditional species characterized as a successful invader in many regionsworldwide. Aphid exudate (honeydew) has been reported to be used as acarbohydrate source by social wasps. The aim of our study was to gain a betterunderstanding of the infestation pattern of the GWA in northwestern Patagonia,its effect on exudate availability and its relationship with yellowjacketforaging patterns. The study was conducted under the working hypothesis thatthe increase in the size of GWA colonies and resulting honeydew production,will fuel an increase in local Vespula spp. populations. RESULTS: We foundthat the aphid honeydew is produced in relatively high amounts in the region(estimated at 1517  139 Kg/ha/season), with strong indicationsthat it is used by yellowjackets because of the significantly higher abundancelevels of yellowjackets foraging on honeydew. CONCLUSION: The interaction ofthree invasive species, willows, GWA and yellowjackets, needs to receivespecial attention to develop future environmentally-sound mitigation tools ofthese nuisance pest.@font-face{font-family:"Cambria Math";panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;mso-font-charset:0;mso-generic-font-family:roman;mso-font-pitch:variable;mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal{mso-style-unhide:no;mso-style-qformat:yes;mso-style-parent:"";margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:10.0pt;margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify;line-height:200%;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}.MsoChpDefault{mso-style-type:export-only;mso-default-props:yes;font-size:11.0pt;mso-ansi-font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-ascii-font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family:Arial;mso-hansi-font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:ES-MX;}.MsoPapDefault{mso-style-type:export-only;margin-bottom:10.0pt;text-align:justify;line-height:200%;}div.WordSection1{page:WordSection1;}