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Chinese Journal of Biological Control ›› 2022, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (2): 312-320.DOI: 10.16409/j.cnki.2095-039x.2021.05.002

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Influence of Releasing Hippodamia variegate at Different Natural Enemy/Pest Ratios on the Control and Colonization of Aphids craccivora on Cowpea in Protected Cultivation

GUO Peipei, PATIMA·Wumuerhan, REN Haohui, Tuersunayi·Aisan, MA Deying   

  1. GUO Peipei, PATIMA·Wumuerhan, REN Haohui, Tuersunayi·Aisan, MA Deying
  • Received:2021-02-13 Online:2022-04-08 Published:2022-04-20

Abstract: Aphis craccivora (Koch) is an important cowpea pest, which often causes serious loss to yield and quality in cowpea. Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) is an important natural enemy of A. craccivora in cowpea production greenhouse. Adults of H. variegata were released at the natural enemy/pest ratios of 1:10, 1:20, 1:40, 1:60, and 1:80 on cowpea in the greenhouse, and cowpea unreleased with H. variegata was used as the control. To determine the best natural enemy/pest ratios for sustained control of A. craccivora by releasing H. variegata, we investigated the decline rate of the released A. craccivora, colonization rate and growth rate of H. variegate, the control efficiency of the released natural enemy against A. craccivora, and the population dynamics of A. craccivora and H. variegata. The results showed that control of A. craccivora was over 90% at 5—35 d after release of predators at the natural enemy/pest ratios of 1:10 and 1:20. However, colonization of H. variegata in the greenhouse was low and the cost was high. When the predators were released at the natural enemy/pest ratios of 1:80, the control of A. craccivora was above 60% at 3―7 d after release and the effective period was only 7 d. The colonization rate and growth rate of H. variegata increased. When the natural enemy/pest ratios were 1:60 and 1:80, the control was low in late stage and the effective duration was short, but the colonization rate of the predators was higher than that of the other natural enemy/pest ratios. The natural enemy/pest ratio of 1:40 was characterized by high control of A. craccivora and colonization of H. variegata in the greenhouses and could afford sustainable control of cowpea A. craccivora. These results indicate that the natural enemy/pest ratio of 1:40 can be used as a reference for control of A. craccivora in cowpea production in greenhouse.

Key words: Hippodamia variegate, cowpea, Aphids craccivora, natural enemy/pest ratios

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