Aphelopus albopictus Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae): Abundance, Parasitism, and Distribution in Relation
      to Leafhopper Hosts in Grapes

Wilson, L; Carmean, I; Flaherty, D

Aphelopus albopictus Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae): Abundance, Parasitism, and Distribution in Relation to Leafhopper Hosts in Grapes

Authors

L. T. Wilson
I. Carmean
D. L. Flaherty

Authors Affiliations

L. T. Wilson was Professor of Entomology, Texas A&;M University, College Station, at the time of this research and was on leave as Professor of Entomology, University of California, Davis; I. Carmean was formerly Postgraduate Research Associate, University of California, Davis; D. L. Flaherty was Farm Advisor, University of California, Cooperative Extension, Tulare.

Publication Information

Hilgardia 59(1):1-16. DOI:10.3733/hilg.v59n01p016. January 1991.

PDF of full article, Cite this article

Abstract

Aphelopus albopictus Ashmead (= A. comesi Fenton), a dryinid nymphal-adult parasite, has been reported as a major mortality agent for grape leafhopper, Erythroneura elegantula Osborn, in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Parasitism levels varied widely among different vineyards. Our studies report up to 33% parasitism of adult grape leafhoppers, with levels considerably less during much of the season.

In comparing the efficiency of the D-Vac and yellow sticky cards for monitoring the abundance of A. albopictus, parasitized grape leafhopper adults, parasitized variegated leafhopper adults, and nonparasitized adults of both leafhopper species, it appears that sticky yellow cards are less efficient at capturing A. albopictus parasitized grape leafhopper adults than adults of either leafhopper. The two sampling methods did not correlate well for adult A. albopictus. The within-vine distribution of A. albopictus was consistent with that reported in the literature for the nymphal stages of the variegated leafhopper, with the majority recorded in the more shaded areas within the canopy of the distal third of the canes. However, grape leafhopper and variegated leafhopper adults were not captured in greater frequency on shaded leaves.

The variegated leafhopper, which was abundant at one of the study sites, is rarely parasitized by A. albopictus. Chemical intervention for control of this pest will likely increase, resulting in disruption of the normally high level of biological control directed against the grape leafhopper.

Literature Cited

Campbell A., Frazer B. D., Gilbert N., Gutierrex A. P., MacAckauer M. Temperature requirements of some aphids and their parasites. J. Appl. Ecol. 1974. 11:431-8. DOI: 10.2307/2402197 [CrossRef]

Cate J. R. Ecology of Erythroneura elegantula Osborn (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) in grape agroecosystems in California 1975. Ph.D. dissertation, Univ. Calif., Berkeley

Dietrick E. J. An improved back pack motor fan for suction sampling of insect populations. J. Econ. Entomol. 1961. 54:394-5.

Dietrick E. J., Schlinger E. I., van den Bosch R. A new method for sampling arthropods using a suction collecting machine and modified Berlese funnel separator. J. Econ. Entomol. 1959. 52:1085-91.

Duncan D. B. Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics. 1955. 11:1-42. DOI: 10.2307/3001478 [CrossRef]

Fenton F. A. The parasites of leafhoppers: with special reference to the biology of the Anteoninae, part I. Ohio J. Sci. 1918a. 18:177-212.

Fenton F. A. The parasites of leafhoppers: with special reference to Anteoninae, part II. Ohio J. Sci. 1918b. 18:243-78.

Fenton F. A. New parasitic Hymenoptera of the subfamily Anteoninae (Bethylidae). Ohio J. Sci. 1924. 24:191-4.

Fenton F. A. Grape pest management 1981. Div. Agr. &; Nat. Res., Univ. Calif., Publ. No. 3343. FLAHERTY D. L. JENSEN F. L. KASIMATIS A. N. KIDO H. MOLLER W. J. (eds.)

Flaherty D. L., Wilson L. T., Stern V., Kido H., Hoy M. A., Herzog D. C. Biological control in San Joaquin Valley vineyards. Biological control in agricultural IPM systems. 1985. New York: Academic Press. p. 501-20. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-357030-7.50033-8 [CrossRef]

Gonzalez D., White W., Pickett C., Cervenka V., Moratorio M., Wilson L. T. Biological control of variegated leafhopper in grapes. Calif. Agr. 1988. 42(1):23-5.

Kido H., Flaherty D. L., Bosch D. F., Valero K. A. The variegated grape leafhopper in the San Joaquin Valley. Calif. Agr. 1984. 38(1-2):31-2.

Kogan M., Pitre H. N. Jr., Kogan M., Herzog D. C. General sampling methods for above-ground populations of soybean arthropods. Sampling methods in soybean entomology. 1980. New York: Springer-Verlag. p. 30-60. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4612-9998-1_2 [CrossRef]

Mochizuki M. The ecology of the variegated grape leafhopper (Erythroneura variabilis Beamer) in the San Joaquin Valley 1984. M.S. thesis, Calif. State Univ., Fresno

Olmi M. I driinidi e il controllo dello cicaline (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae; Homoptera, Aucheno-rhyncha). Ann. Fac. Sci. Agrar. Univ. Stud. Torino. 1979. 10:145-68.

Pickett C. H., Wilson L. T., Gonzalez D., Flaherty D. L. Biological control of variegated grape leafhopper. Calif. Agr. 1987. 41(7-8):14-6.

Pickett C. H., Wilson L. T., Flaherty D. L., Conzalez D. Measuring the host preference of parasites: an aid in evaluating biotypes of Anagrus epos Girault (Hym.: Mymaridae). Entomophaga. 1989. 34:551-8. DOI: 10.1007/BF02374393 [CrossRef]

Price P. W. Insect ecology. 1975. New York: Wiley Interscience. 514p.

Settle W. H., Wilson L. T., Flaherty D. L., English-Loeb G. M. The variegated leafhopper, an increasing pest of grapes. Calif. Agr. 1986. 40(7-8):30-2.

Steel R. G. D., Torrie J. H. Principles and procedures of statistics: a biometrical approach. 1980. 2d ed New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co. 633p.

Wilson L. T., Flaherty D. L., Settle W., Andris H., Pickett C., Gonzalez D. Managing the variegated leafhopper and the grape leafhopper. Calif. Table Grape Symposium. 1987. Univ. Calif. and Calif. Table Grape Commission. p. 5-11.

Zar J. H. Biostatistical analysis. 1974. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc. 620p.

Also in this issue:

Environmental laws elicit evolution in pest management

Letters: January-March 2005

Science briefs: January-March 2005

Food Quality Protection Act launches search for pest management alternatives

Managing resistance is critical to future use of pyrethroids and neonicotinoids

Pheromone mating disruption offers selective management options for key pests

Biological and cultural controls … Nonpesticide alternatives can suppress crop pests

Various novel insecticides are less toxic to humans, more specific to key pests

Microorganisms and their byproducts, nematodes, oils and particle films have important agricultural uses

Costs of 2001 methyl bromide rules estimated for California strawberry industry