Oviposition Behavior of a Syrphid, Episyrphus balteatus, in Relation to Aphid Density on the Plant

Abstract

The relation between oviposition by a syrphid, Episyrphus balteatus, and the density of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, on cabbage plants was studied in a field cage. The number of eggs laid by Episyrphus was significantly larger on the plant infested with a large number of aphids. Further, the female flies laid more eggs cn leaves infested with a high density of aphids within the plant. The degree of overlapping between aphids and syrphid eggs, however, was by no means complete and the mean number of syrphid eggs per aphid tended to decrease with increasing aphid density. © 1977, JAPANESE SOCIETY OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY AND ZOOLOGY. All rights reserved.