SEASONAL OCCURRENCE AND RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF APHID PREDATORS AND PARASITOIDS ON PUBESCENT POTATO PLANTS

During 2 field seasons, Coccinellidae (primarily Coccinella transversoguttata richardsoni, Coleomegilla maculata, Hippodamia convergens, H. tridecimpunctata, and H. glacialis) were the most abundant predators on potato hybrids (Solanum tuberosum × S. berthaultii, F3) with various densities of glandular pubescence. Highly pubescent clones had the highest percentage of predator eggs, while clones with the lowest trichome densities had the highest percentages of immature and adult predators. By comparison, high numbers of aphid parasitoid mummies (primarily Aphidius and Praon spp.) occurred on clones with moderate to high densities of glandular pubescence. During both years, predators and parasitoids were most abundant in late July and August.

Defensive substances of Coccinella transversoguttata and Hippodamia caseyi, ladybugs indigenous to western Canada

The defensive substances of two species of ladybug indigenous to western Canada have been isolated. The known compounds precoccinelline (1) and coccinelline (2) are present in Coccinella transversoguttata, and hippodamine (3) and convergine (4) in Hippodamia caseyi. From the latter insect we have also isolated two new alkaloids, a new base, N-oxide pair, which we have named hippocasine and hippocasine oxide. The structure of hippocasine oxide (8) was established by spectroscopic methods and confirmed by X-ray analysis of the hydrochloride (9d and Fig. 1).

EFFECTS OF VARIOUS FACTORS ON THE LOCAL DISTRIBUTION AND DENSITY OF COCCINELLID ADULTS ON CORN (COLEOPTERA: COCCINELLIDAE)

The adult densities of Hippodamia tredecimpunctata tibialis (Say), Coccinella novemnotata Hbst., and Coccinella transversoguttata richardsoni Brown, on corn fluctuated in July and August and reached their maxima at pollination, whereas the density of Coleomegilla maculata lengi Timberlake fluctuated much less. C. maculata, H. tredecimpunctata, and C. transversoguttata were more numerous on plants with a liver diet applied to their foliage than on untreated plants. H. tredecimpunctata, C. novemnotata, and C. transversoguttata were less numerous on plants that had their tassels removed and produced no pollen than on intact plants. C. maculata, H. tredecimpunctata, and C. transversoguttata were more numerous on plants exposed to the maximum amount of sunshine than on plants that were shaded for part of each day. H. tredecimpunctata was more numerous on plants situated at low elevation than at high elevation, whereas C. transversoguttata was more numerous at high than at low elevation. C. maculata and H. tredecimpunctata were more numerous on plants near the middle of a corn field than on plants at the perimeter of a field adjacent to buckwheat, whereas C. novemnotata and C. transversoguttata were most numerous on plants near the perimeter. Two-species associations of C. maculata and H. tredecimpunctata, C. novemnotata and H. tredecimpunctata, C. novemnotata and C. transversoguttata, and C. novemnotata and H. tredecimpunctata occurred on individual plants. Plant density and time of planting affected coccinellid density. Adult density was greatest at a plant density of 3.2 plants per square metre and adults were more numerous on early than on late planted corn.