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Pesticides and natural enemies (particularly ground beetles) of aphids on potato

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DixonPL_1987redux.pdf (26.76Mb)
Date
1987
Author
Dixon, Peggy L.
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Abstract
 
 
The arthropod fauna of fields of ware potatoes in eastern Scotland was assessed to determine the species composition and relative abundance of the natural enemies of aphids on potato. Aphids and aphid-specific predators and parasitoids were surveyed by visual searches of foliage; epigeal arthropods were assessed by pitfall trapping.
 
Aphid-specific natural enemies were generally uncommon but may have been underestimated. Approximately 11,000 animals were caught in pitfall traps and most were of the ground beetle genus Pterostichus (Coleoptera : Carabidae). Gut dissections showed that 14.4 and 30.5 per cent of Pterostichus melanarius and Pterostichus madidus respectively, contained aphid remnants. In the laboratory, demeton-S-methyl applied directly to these beetles had little apparent effect but 19.1 per cent died after consumption of treated aphids. Field experiments indicated that demeton-S-methyl influenced the trap catch of Pterostichus spp by altering their predatory activity. Caution should thus be exercised when interpreting such data.
 
It is suggested that certain species of Carabidae may be important in the control of aphids on potato. Their potential is discussed and suggestions given for further research.
 
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http://hdl.handle.net/1842/27914
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