Abstract
BACKGROUND: Larvae of many hoverfly species prey upon aphids, whereas the adults, by relying on nectar and pollen, contribute to the pollination of many plant species. Despite their great potential for pest control and pollination, important gaps still exist regarding the efficacy of hoverflies in regulating infestations of major aphid pests in augmentative biological control programs. Here, we tested the potential of the commercially available hoverflies Eupeodes corollae and Sphaerophoria rueppellii to regulate populations of the foxglove aphid Aulacorthum solani in sweet pepper. RESULTS: In a semi-field experiment, aphid numbers were 93.2% and 78.4% lower in the E. corollae and S. rueppellii treatments, respectively, compared to the control. Fruit yield was increased by 390% and 361% and seed set by 395% and 399% for E. corollae and S. rueppellii. In a separate laboratory trial, we found that under conditions of limited prey, hoverfly larvae did not complete development, but that larvae of S. rueppellii survived significantly longer than larvae of E. corollae. CONCLUSION: We have shown for the first time that E. corollae and S. rueppellii can reduce infestations of foxglove aphid in sweet pepper. The limited amount of prey, related to the small size of the A. solani colonies, means that hoverfly larvae were often not able to complete development. In practice, repeated releases of hoverflies, possibly in combination with other natural enemies, might be used to achieve effective suppression of A. solani infestations. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
E. corollae treatment reduced aphid numbers by 93.2% against control.
- Taxon
- sweet pepper
Capsicum annuumt0 - Treatment
- E. corollaee0
- Interactor
- foxglove aphid
Aulacorthum solanit0pest - Second interactor
- E. corollae
_female.jpg?width=60)
Eupeodes corollaee0biocontrol_agent - Outcome
- aphid numberse0
- Direction
- lowere0
- Value
- 93.2%e0
- Comparator
- controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
_female.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“aphid numbers were 93.2% and 78.4% lower in the E. corollae and S. rueppellii treatments, respectively, compared to the control.”
t0“foxglove aphid infestations and improve seed set and fruit yield in sweet pepper”
Claim · model-written summary
S. rueppellii treatment reduced aphid numbers by 78.4% against control.
- Taxon
- sweet pepperCapsicum annuumt0
- Treatment
- S. rueppelliie0
- Interactor
- foxglove aphidAulacorthum solanit0pest
- Second interactor
- S. rueppellii
Sphaerophoria rueppelliie0biocontrol_agent - Outcome
- aphid numberse0
- Direction
- lowere0
- Value
- 78.4%e0
- Comparator
- controle0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“aphid numbers were 93.2% and 78.4% lower in the E. corollae and S. rueppellii treatments, respectively, compared to the control.”
t0“foxglove aphid infestations and improve seed set and fruit yield in sweet pepper”
Claim · model-written summary
E. corollae increased fruit yield by 390%.
- Taxon
- sweet pepperCapsicum annuumt0
- Treatment
- E. corollaee0
- Interactor
- E. corollaeEupeodes corollaee0biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- Fruit yielde0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 390%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Fruit yield was increased by 390% and 361% and seed set by 395% and 399% for E. corollae and S. rueppellii.”
t0“sweet pepper”
Claim · model-written summary
S. rueppellii increased fruit yield by 361%.
- Taxon
- sweet pepperCapsicum annuumt0
- Treatment
- S. rueppelliie0
- Interactor
- S. rueppelliiSphaerophoria rueppelliie0biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- Fruit yielde0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 361%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Fruit yield was increased by 390% and 361% and seed set by 395% and 399% for E. corollae and S. rueppellii.”
t0“sweet pepper”
Claim · model-written summary
E. corollae increased seed set by 395%.
- Taxon
- sweet pepperCapsicum annuumt0
- Treatment
- E. corollaee0
- Interactor
- E. corollaeEupeodes corollaee0biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- seed sete0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 395%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Fruit yield was increased by 390% and 361% and seed set by 395% and 399% for E. corollae and S. rueppellii.”
t0“sweet pepper”
Claim · model-written summary
S. rueppellii increased seed set by 399%.
- Taxon
- sweet pepperCapsicum annuumt0
- Treatment
- S. rueppelliie0
- Interactor
- S. rueppelliiSphaerophoria rueppelliie0biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- seed sete0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 399%e0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Fruit yield was increased by 390% and 361% and seed set by 395% and 399% for E. corollae and S. rueppellii.”
t0“sweet pepper”
Claim · model-written summary
Limited prey prevented hoverfly larvae from completing development.
- Taxon
- sweet pepperCapsicum annuumt0
- Interactor
- hoverfly larvaee0biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- hoverfly larvae did not complete developmente0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“under conditions of limited prey, hoverfly larvae did not complete development”
t0“sweet pepper”
Claim · model-written summary
With limited prey, S. rueppellii larvae survived significantly longer than E. corollae larvae.
- Taxon
- sweet pepperCapsicum annuumt0
- Interactor
- S. rueppelliiSphaerophoria rueppelliie0biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- larvae of S. rueppellii survivede0
- Direction
- longere0
- Comparator
- larvae of E. corollaee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“larvae of S. rueppellii survived significantly longer than larvae of E. corollae.”
t0“sweet pepper”
Claim · model-written summary
Repeated hoverfly releases, potentially with other natural enemies, may suppress A. solani infestations.
- Taxon
- sweet pepperCapsicum annuumt0
- Interactor
- A. solaniAulacorthum solanie0pest
- Outcome
- effective suppression of A. solani infestationse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“In practice, repeated releases of hoverflies, possibly in combination with other natural enemies, might be used to achieve effective suppression of A. solani infestations.”
t0“sweet pepper”