Propylea quatordecimpunctataladybirds stand for an efficacious solution in the biological control of aphids . " One of the distinguishing feature of aphid is their ability to reproduce very chop-chop as they are largely a agamogenetic reproductive coinage , which means that females can straight off produce neanids without being fertilize by males . This allows them to proliferate speedily and colonize works in large telephone number , " explains Stefano Foschi of Bioplanet ( now part of CBC Europe srl - Div . BIOGARD ) ,
Biological control by mean of auxiliaries is based on the activeness of parasitoids and piranha , which are used preventively or when the phytophagus insect is first detected , precisely because of the aphids ' extremely rapid ability to colonize plants and the incidental difficulty in hold well - form colonies .
" As a general rule , small repeated parasitoid introductions are made , often taking into account the plant circumstance surrounding the craw , and possibly also exploit aphids not directly present on the harvest so as to increase the population of ' utilitarian ' one and have them promptly active on the crop itself . "
On the other hand , predators - ladybirds in particular - indigence quarry to feed by definition , and establish themselves permanently on the harvest : it is therefore easy to employ them and see result in case plague that are already evident , which may seem irreconcilable with the need of growers to have plants where aphid plague is never high .
" However , the conviction that the use of ladybeetle is only ' curative ' in overt aphid infestation has been passably disproved for some species , and forPropylea quatordecimpunctatain special . This is a small ladybird that is very common in European habitats . It feeds principally on aphid , which it preys on both in their larval and grownup point , but can also adjust to partially feed on pollen alone . "
Unlike interchangeable , better - known , larger coinage , Propyleafrequents plant even when prey is not numerous , and is thus able to do as a downcast - compactness restraint factor for phytophagus insects . If aphid colonies become numerous , it is able-bodied to react by reproduce chop-chop , eventually building up large populations .
" This tractableness of behavior puddle it suitable for other introductions especially on greenhouse crop such as peppers , aubergines , melon vine and cuke , but also strawberry and other crops for which the damage doorsill get by aphids does not allow for ' alterative ' institution of other predator . Propyleacan also be introduced as a preventative touchstone , similarly to what already done with parasitoids , with several successive introduction starting at the first here and now of ' risk ' or at the very first evidence of the phytophagus insects on the plants without fear dip in temperature , as the specie is already combat-ready at 15 ° C . In late class , Bioplanet has see an increasing need forPropylea , particularly in Northern Europe on horticultural harvest where the fused use of parasitoids alone has not always father a straightaway reception , " the expert channelise out .
" In such contexts , the comprehension ofPropyleaas a piranha increases restraint by tot a new containment factor , which is an alternative to or - even undecomposed - complements the parasitoids themselves . For this reason , we are preparing promotional campaigns for the bound full stop on the commercial-grade product Lea 100 and Lea 250 , so as to promote the knowledge and use ofPropyleaon the upcoming aphid plague , " Foschi conclude .
For more informationCBC(Europe ) S.r.l . Div BIOGARDvia Zanica , 2524050 Grassobbio ( BG)+39 035 335313[email protect ]
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