Population Dynamics Pattern of Green Peach Aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) and Its Predator Complex in a Potato System

• Published in: Korean journal of biological sciences Vol. 2; no. 2; pp. 217 - 222
• Main Authors: Ro, Tae-Ho, Garrell E. Long
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 1998
• ISSN: 1226-5071

Green peach aphid, Myzus persicae(Sulzer) (Homoptera: Aphididae), interacts with many predatory insects in potato fields during the summer. The concept of the predator complex associated with green peach aphids was applied to explain the interactions between the aphid and its predators. The predator power of the predator complex was determined by two factors: the number of predators and the relative feeding capacity. The dynamics of the green peach aphid population was expressed by the number of individuals while the predator power was used to characterize the predator complex. Cumulative degree-days for green peach aphids were used as a time scale to analyze phonology and dynamics patterns of the aphid and its predator complex. The patterns of population changes in aphids were similar during the period of study(1993-1995) although the highest density of aphids fluctuated significantly from year to year. However, the predator power appeared more stable than the green peach aphid population over the three year period. The results indicated that the predator complex plays an important role to suppress the aphid populations during the latter part of the season and that the applications of control measures for green peach aphids in between the initiation and the peak timing of aphid populations are critical to minimize the damage on potatoes.