Biological control of aphids in sweet pepper greenhouses using the banker plant system for aphidophagous gall midge, Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

Abstract

Biological control of aphids in sweet pepper greenhouses using the banker plant system for aphidophagous gall midge, Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) Summary The efficiency of the banker plant system that used the aphidophagous cecidomyiid Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rondani) in controlling aphids on greenhouse sweet peppers (Manganji-Togarashi) was evaluated in Maizuru City, Kyoto Prefecture. To establish an A. aphidimyza population, sorghum and Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner) were used as the banker plant and alternative prey, respectively. Pest aphids on sweet pepper plants were suppressed more effectively in greenhouses using the sorghum banker plant system than in those using the wheat banker plant system. In a greenhouse with the sorghum banker plant system, in which A. aphidimyza was released at four times, A. aphidimyza population was maintained for three months at the level required to suppress these pests.