Discovery of Aphis ruborum (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and Aphelinus varipes (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) on cultivated strawberry in Mississippi, USA

Authors: Riddick, Eric; Miller, Gary; Owen, Christopher; Bauchan, Gary; SCHMIDT, JASON - University Of Georgia; GARIEPY, TARA - Agriculture And Agri-Food Canada; BROWN, RICHARD - Mississippi State University; Grodowitz, Michael

Submitted to: Journal of Insect Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/26/2019
Publication Date: 6/8/2019
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/6473335
Citation: Riddick, E.W., Miller, G.L., Owen, C.L., Bauchan, G.R., Schmidt, J.M., Gariepy, T., Brown, R.L., Grodowitz, M.J. 2019. Discovery of Aphis ruborum (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and Aphelinus varipes (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) on cultivated strawberry in Mississippi, USA. Journal of Insect Science. 19(3):1-6. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iez045.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/iez045

Interpretive Summary: Aphids can seriously damage many crops such as small fruits, i.e., cultivated strawberry, in greenhouses or high tunnels. A key to managing aphids without pesticides is to first identify the species and any associated natural enemies. Morphology and DNA barcoding identified the aphid as Aphis ruborum, an adventive species widely distributed in Europe, North Africa, and central Asia. DNA barcoding identified two closely related natural enemies, including two parasitic wasps, Aphelinus varipes and Aphelinus albipodus. This research is significant because it reports a new state record (for Mississippi, USA) and the eastern-most establishment of the aphid in the USA. Also, the association of the aphid with the two Aphelinus species is reported herein for the first time anywhere in the world, to our knowledge. Ongoing studies are evaluating the potential of Aphelinus species, and other natural enemies, to control the aphid.

Technical Abstract: We report an adventive aphid and novel host-parasitoid association from cultivated strawberry (Fragaria x ananessa Duch. cv. Chandler; Fragaria x ananessa Duch. cv. Camarosa) in Mississippi, USA. The aphid, first detected in high tunnel cultivation, was found predominately on newly-emerged, not fully-developed leaflets of daughter plants in the Fall of 2016. By 2017, aphids and their associated mummies were observed on fully-developed leaflets on mother plants of both cultivars. Using morphology and DNA barcoding, the aphid was identified as Aphis (A.) ruborum (Börner & Schilder). In addition, DNA barcoding identified parasitoid adults emerging from aphid mummies as two cryptic species, Aphelinus varipes (Foerster) and Aphelinus albipodus Hayat and Fatima. Occurrence of A. ruborum in Mississippi represents a new state record and eastern-most established record in the USA. The Aphis ruborum - Aphelinus varipes or albipodus host-parasitoid association is reported herein for the first time anywhere in the world.