Nc. Elliott et al., APHID HOST EFFECTS ON THE BIOLOGY OF DIAERETIELLA-RAPAE (HYMENOPTERA,APHIDIIDAE), The Southwestern entomologist, 19(3), 1994, pp. 279-284
Mated female Diaeretiella rapae M'Intosh, maintained in the laboratory
on Brevicoryne brassicae (L.), feeding on Brassica oleracea L. for 12
generations parasitized 8 of 14 aphid species to which they were expo
sed for 24 h on caged host plants. Diaeretiella rapae parasitized four
small gram (barley) feeding, two crucifer feeding, one cotton feeding
, and one sunflower feeding aphid species. The total time required for
immature development, the proportion of aphids parasitized, and the d
ry weight of newly eclosed adults differed significantly among host sp
ecies. A greater percentage of B. brassicae than of other species were
parasitized (94%), and the dry weight of adults eclosing from B. bras
sicae was greater than for other species. Results are discussed in ter
ms of the potential utility of habitat diversification for improving b
iological control of small grain aphid pests in the Southern Great Pla
ins.