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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Poplarville, Mississippi » Southern Horticultural Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #133797
Title: PREDATION OF APHIDS ON CAGED OAK (QUERCUS) SAPLINGS IN A GREENHOUSE BY DERAEOCORIS NEBULOSUS (HEMIPTERA:MIRIDAE)

Author
item Boyd Jr, David
item ALVERSON, DAVID - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Journal of Agricultural and Urban Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/4/2003
Publication Date: 11/4/2003
Citation: Boyd, D. W., and D.R. Alverson. 2003. Predation of aphids on caged oak (Quercus sp.) saplings in a greenhouse by Deraeocoris nebulosus (Hemiptera:Miridae).J. Agric. Urban Entomol.20(2):55-58.

Interpretive Summary: The biology of a plant bug that eats other insects has been studied, but its effectiveness in reducing aphid populations is not known. We caged the plant bug with aphids on oak saplings. The plant bugs were effective in killing the aphids in two different treatments. This information will help other scientists use this plant bug in other applications. The information will also help others see the importance of biological control.

Technical Abstract: A greenhouse study was conducted using potted oak saplings infested with a large population of aphids to test the ability of Deraeocoris nebulosus (Uhler) to reduce prey populations at two predator densities (10 or 20 nymphs/sapling). Deraeocoris nebulosus effectively reduced the population of aphids on the caged oak saplings. Both the 10 and 20 late instars treatments reduced the aphid populations by 70 percent.