The influence of different semi-natural surroundings adjacent to apple orchards on the occurrence predatory syrphids and biological control Aphis pomi Deg. Dysaphis plantaginea Pass. was compared. Two methods catching hoverflies were used: yellow traps collect adults hand picking get larvae from aphid colonies. A total 1029 Syrphidae (26 species belonging 14 genera) subfamily Syrphinae collecte...

Alternative strategies to the common practice of spraying with insecticide in order to control the rosy apple aphid Dysaphis plantaginea (Pass.) (Homoptera: Aphididae) are required. Biological control by natural enemies is a possible tool. In Asturies, despite the tradition of growing local cider apple trees, there are no studies about the community of D. plantaginea predators and their impact ...

Mass releases of two parasitoid species, Aphidius matricariae and Ephedrus cerasicola, may provide an alternative measure to pesticides control the rosy apple aphid Dysaphis plantaginea in organic orchards. As exploratory study, we tested if presence flower strips between tree rows could improve action three early releases––and other naturally present enemies––on colonies number aphids per tree...

All aphid species studied so far share the same sex pheromone components, nepetalactol and nepetalactone. Variation by different enantiomers and blends of the two components released by different aphid species are limited and can only partially explain species-specific attraction of males to females. While some host-plant odours are known to enhance specific attraction of aphid species, herbivo...

The adaptive value of autumn colours is still a puzzle for evolutionary biology. It has been suggested that autumn colours are a warning signal to insects that use the trees as a host. I show that aphids (Dysaphis plantaginea) avoid apple trees (Malus pumila) with red leaves in autumn and that their fitness in spring is lower on these trees, which suggests that red leaves are an honest signal o...