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Lesson Nine

Biological Pest Control 9-4

Pest:

Aphids

Aphids inflict serious damage in various crops and
their reproductive capacity is enormous. The damage
they cause is due to secreted honeydew resulting in
contamination of fruit. Aphids are also notorious for
                             carrymg vlruses.


Green aphids


Aphids
are slow moving insects,
inhabiting the undersides of
leaves. They establish dense
colonies of tiny (1/32" -1/8"),
soft bodied, pear shaped insects 
that are light green, pink, yel-
low, brown or black in color.

Biological Control:

Aphidius colemani and Aphidoletes aphidimyza

The parasitic wasp Aphidius colemani is particularly effective against some species of aphids.
Parasitised aphids form characteristic white "mummies." Aphidoletes aphidimyza is effective
on a wide range of aphid species and lays its eggs in aphid colonies. The orange larvae that 
hatch from these eggs feed voraciously on aphids.


Aphidius colemani


Aphidoletes aphidimyza

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