Aphid Assemblages Associated with Urban Park Plant Communities

Some aphid species are important agricultural pests, sometimes also found on plants growing in urban areas. In this work, we set out to identify the plant species, communities or habitats that are more attractive to aphids in order to limit their spread into new green areas. The aim of the study was to determine and compare plant communities and the assemblages of aphids associated with them in different urban park habitats. The research hypothesis assumed that the differences between aphid assemblages depend on plant diversity and hence reflect urban park habitat environmental conditions, in particular the plant communities and the floral structure. The study was carried out in Bydgoszcz (northern Poland), and four parks were taken into consideration. Herein, floristic lists were used to calculate ecological indicator values for each park. The aphid species richness was determined, as well as the relative abundance and dominance structure similarities of the aphid assemblages. Our results demonstrated that Prunus spp. were strongly infested by Hyalopterus pruni, similarly as Philadelphus inodorus by Aphis fabae, Sambucus nigra by Aphis sambuci, and Acerplatanoides and A. pseudoplatanus by Periphyllus testudinaceus. Park plantations of Robinia pseudoacacia were not very attractive to aphids. The most attractive plant communities to aphids were syntaxonomically identifiable as alluvial alder forests in the layer of trees and Cornus sanguinea in the layer of shrubs.

Population and harmfulness of phytophages in peach orchards in the conditions of the Southern Steppe of Ukraine

Goal. To determine the number and harmfulness of the main phytophages on peach cultivars of different ripening terms in order to plan measures to protect the crop from pest damage. Methods. Laboratory-field. The research was carried out in peach orchards of the Scientific and Production Site «Naukova» of Melitopol Fruit Growing Research Station named after M.F. Sydorenka of Institute of Horticulture of NAAS according to generally accepted methods. Monitoring of the number of phytophages was performed on peach cultivars of different ripening terms: Iiun`s`kyi rannii, Melіtopol’s’kyi iasnyi, Charivnyk, Zlatodar, Vireneia, Redhaven, Spokusa, Zolotystii, Mriia and Yuvileinyi Sydorenka during bud swelling, inflorescence opening (pink tip), flowering, growth and maturations of the fruits. Results. Entomoacarocenosis of peach plantations has 15 species of insects pests and 2 species of mites. During the flowering period, the main harmful species was Epicometis hirta Poda., the number of imagoes in different cultivars was 0.3—5.8 specimens/100 flowers. Population intensity of peach trees with green peach aphids (Myzodes persicae Sulz.) for certain cultivars reached the level of 1.9 points, mealy plum aphid (Hyalopterus pruni Geoffr.) — did not exceed 0.8 points. Density of mites, Thrips fuscipennis Haliche and Typhlocyba rosae L. varied in the range of 0.4—2.5; 0.8—2.4; 0.5—1.6 specimen/leaf, respectively. The main fruit-damaging pests in peach orchards were oriental fruit moth (Grapholitha molesta Busck.) and peach twig borer (Anarsia lineatella Zell.). The degree of fruit damage by Lepidoptera pest oriental fruit moth on early-ripening peach cultivars was 3.0—4.0%, increased on medium- and late-ripening cultivars to 6.8% and 11.7%, respectively. The level of fruit damage by peach twig borer compared to the eastern fruit moth was 2.8—10.7 times lower, depending on the cultivar. Conclusions. In the conditions of the South of Ukraine, 15 insect pests and 2 species of mites were recorded in peach orchards. During the growing season, the number of most species of phytophagous, including weevils, leafroller moths, mites, thrips, Typhlocyba rosae on different peach cultivars did not exceed the economic threshold of harmfulness. During the flowering period, Epicometis hirta was the threat to peach orchards. In the summer of 2019, the harmful effects of sucking phytophages, in particular aphids, led to delayed growth and development of shoots, deformation of leaves. The main species of pests that reduced the yield and fruit quality were oriental fruit moth and peach twig borer.

PLUM : CHARACTERIZATION OF PLUM SPECIES IN TERMS OF THEIR PEST RESISTANCE IN THE NORTHWEST OF RUSSIA

The catalogue presents the results of a long-term study (1982–2020) into the resistance to aphids, winter moth and cherry mucous sawfly in diploid species of plum, blackthorn and damson (235 accessions) at Pushkin and Pavlovsk Laboratories of VIR, located at the northern boundary of the area of Prunus spp. distribution. The species composition of the aphids damaging Prunus spp. was disclosed (6 species). Hyalopterus pruni Geoffr. and Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae L. proved to be the most harmful pests in Northwestern Russia. Sources of pest resistance and traits of value for breeders were identified in the studied genotypes. The catalogue is addressed to experts in the spheres of entomology and plant breeding.

Wolbachia, Spiroplasma, and Rickettsia symbiotic bacteria in aphids (Aphidoidea)

Aphids are a diverse family of crop pests. Aphids formed a complex relationship with intracellular bacteria. Depending on the region of study, the species composition of both aphids and their facultative endosymbionts varies. The aim of the work was to determine the occurrence and genetic diversity of Wolbachia, Spiroplasma and Rickettsia symbionts in aphids collected in 2018–2019 in Moscow. For these purposes, 578 aphids from 32 collection sites were tested by PCR using specific primers. At least 21 species of aphids from 14 genera and four families were identified by barcoding method, of which 11 species were infected with endosymbionts. Rickettsia was found in six species, Wolbachia in two species, Spiroplasma in one species. The presence of Rickettsia in Impatientinum asiaticum, Myzus cerasi, Hyalopterus pruni, Eucallipterus tiliae, Chaitophorus tremulae and Wolbachia in Aphis pomi and C. tremulae has been described for the first time. A double infection with Rickettsia and Spiroplasma was detected in a half of pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) individuals. For the first time was found that six species of aphids are infected with Rickettsia that are genetically different from previously known. It was first discovered that A. pomi is infected with two Wolbachia strains, one of which belongs to supergroup B and is genetically close to Wolbachia from C. tremulae. The second Wolbachia strain from A. pomi belongs to the supergroup M, recently described in aphid species. Spiroplasma, which we observed in A. pisum, is genetically close to male killing Spiroplasma from aphids, ladybirds and moths. Both maternal inheritance and horizontal transmission are the pathways for the distribution of facultative endosymbiotic bacteria in aphids.

Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Plum and Cherry Plum in Bulgaria

The species complex and infestations of aphids on plum (Prunus persica) and cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera) in Bulgaria were investigated during the period 2013–2018. Nine species from the family Aphididae were found: Brachycaudus helichrysi Kaltenbach (leaf-curling plum aphid), Hyalopterus pruni Geoffroy (mealy plum aphid), Phorodon humuli Schrank (hop aphid), Brachycaudus prunicola Kaltenbach (brown plum aphid), Brachycaudus cardui Linnaeus (thistle aphid), Brachycaudus persicae Passerini (black peach aphid), Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae Linnaeus (waterlily aphid), Aphis spiraecola Patch (spiraea aphid) and Pterochloroides persicae Cholodkovsky (peach trunk aphid). The dominant species on plum are Hyalopterus pruni and Brachycaudus helichrysi. The first species is more widespread and of significantly higher density. The dominant species on cherry plum are Phorodon humuli and B. helichrysi. The species Brachycaudus prunicola is widespread both on plum and cherry plum in Bulgaria. It was found only on twigs, and therefore cannot be considered as a dangerous pest on fruit-bearing plum trees. The other species, some of them described as dangerous pests on plum, are today fairly rare and occur in low density, thus posing no danger to orchards.

APHIDIDAE (INSECTA : HOMOPTERA) PROCEDENTES DE CANTA (LIMA - PERU)

Se han identificado las siguientes especies: Acyrthosiphon bidenticola, A. kondoi. Aphis craccivora, A. fabae, A gossypii, Hyalopterus pruni, Hyperomyzus lactucae, Macrosiphum euphorbiae, M. rosae, Myzus persicae, Rhopalosiphunt maidis, R. padi, Sipha flava, Toxoptera aurantii, T. citricidus y Uroleucon erigeronensis. Todas las especies se citan por primera vez para la localidad de Canta.