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A method for mass rearing the aphid predator Anthocoris nemorum
Author(s) -
PARKER N. J. B.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1981.tb04789.x
Subject(s) - biology , aphid , predator , instar , larva , horticulture , biological pest control , botany , predation , ecology
SUMMARY Anthocoris nemorum is currently under investigation as a potential agent for the control of damson‐hop aphid Phorodon humuli on hops. Detailed here is a method of rearing A. nemorum to provide a large number of insects with a predetermined age structure for mass release in the field. It is designed to minimise culture maintenance, with components and materials which are readily obtained as, or can be modified from, stock items. Initial cultures are collected from the field, as adults, in early autumn and artificially overwintered. These are recovered in early spring, with females being placed in oviposition chambers, and the harvesting of ova regulated to provide synchronisation of eclosion within batches. Larvae are reared until they reach the desired instar for mass release and then held in controlled cold storage until required.