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Bionomics of Aphis chloris Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae) for biological control of St John's wort in Australia
Author(s) -
CSIRO D. T. BRIESE
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
ecological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.865
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1365-2311
pISSN - 0307-6946
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2311.1988.tb00368.x
Subject(s) - biology , fecundity , botany , aphididae , biological pest control , chloris gayana , aphis , horticulture , bionomics , hemiptera , aphid , homoptera , population , pest analysis , dry matter , demography , sociology , larva
.1 A parthenogenic strain of Aphis chloris Koch, imported into Australia for the biological control of St John's wort Hypericum perforatum L. was found, under laboratory conditions, to develop over a temperature range of 8.5–33°C. 2 Optimal performance, as measured by fecundity, survival and r m occurred in the range 20–30°C, and at temperatures above 26°C A.chloris performed better than the majority of aphids for which comparable data was available. 3 Under crowded conditions A.chloris produced smaller apterae, a high proportion of alatae, and a low number of oviparae, but no males. Sexually‐reproducing forms could not be induced under conditions of short photoperiod or low temperatures in the absence of crowding. 4 Apterae were larger and more fecund when fed on older flowering stems of the host‐plant, than when fed on new rosette growth. 5 The high potential rate of increase, ability to disperse, and good performance of A.chloris at high temperatures and on the phenological stage of the host‐plant present over summer, suggest that it could contribute to the biological control of St John's wort in Australia, especially during the warmer part of the year when the principal existing control agents ( Chrysolina spp.) are inactive.