AbstractThe dynamics of Aphis pomi De Geer (Homoptera: Aphididae) and its predator, Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), were studied over two seasons in a commercial apple orchard in Nova Scotia. Aphid and predator population dynamics were very different in the two seasons. The most numerous predator in both years was A. aphidimyza. This predator was found in the earliest colonies sampled each season and was present throughout the growing season. In the year with relatively high aphid densities a single peak in aphid and predator density was seen in mid-July, just prior to maximum predation rate. The predator’s numerical response resulted in delayed density dependence in predation rate. In the year of low aphid densities, predator and prey dynamics appeared uncoupled, and a higher rate of colony turnover may have been caused by other predators such as mirids. Aphidoletes aphidimyza tended to aggregate oviposition in high-density aphid colonies, but this aggregation resulted in predation that was only very weakly spatially density dependent.
A mathematical model of population dynamics for Batesian mimicry system
