A Survey of Syrphid Predators of Nasonovia ribisnigri in Organic Lettuce on the Central Coast of California

Organic lettuce, Lactuca sativa L., producers on California’s Central Coast rely on endemic syrphid flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) to suppress populations of Nasonovia ribisnigri Mosley (Homoptera: Aphididae) and other aphids affecting lettuce. Growers are using various forms of habitat manipulation to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of economic entomology 2007-02, Vol.100 (1), p.39-48
Main Authors: Smith, Hugh A., Chaney, William E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
aphid predators
Aphids - parasitology
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
BIOLOGICAL AND MICROBIAL CONTROL
biological control agents
California
conservation biocontrol
conservation biological control
Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife
Control
Diptera - physiology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
Generalities
insect surveys
insectary crops
Lactuca - parasitology
Lactuca sativa
Larva
Nasonovia ribisnigri
natural enemies
organic agriculture
organic production
Ovum
Pest Control, Biological - methods
Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection
Population Density
predatory insects
Protozoa. Invertebrates
romaine lettuce
Species Specificity
Syrphidae
Time Factors
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Description
Summary:Organic lettuce, Lactuca sativa L., producers on California’s Central Coast rely on endemic syrphid flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) to suppress populations of Nasonovia ribisnigri Mosley (Homoptera: Aphididae) and other aphids affecting lettuce. Growers are using various forms of habitat manipulation to enhance biological control. We surveyed syrphids collected from organic romaine in and around the Salinas Valley from March through September 2005 to gain a better understanding of the species responsible for aphid suppression and to examine possible implications for biocontrol. The primary species of syrphid fly reared were Toxomerus marginatus (Say) (39%), Platycheirus stegnus (Say) (27%), Sphaerophoria sulfuripes (Thomson) (13%), and Allograpta obliqua (Say) (10%). Syrphus opinator Osten Sacken (2%), Toxomerus occidentalis (Curran) (1.3%), and Eupeodes volucris Osten Sacken (1%) were less common. Sphaerophoria pyrrhina Bigot, Scaeva pyrastri (L.), Platycheirus obscurus Say, Allograpta exotica Wiedemann, and Eupeodes americanus Wiedemann each made up
ISSN:0022-0493
1938-291X
DOI:10.1603/0022-0493%282007%29100%5B39%3AASOSPO%5D2.0.CO%3B2