Diversity of aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) associated with potato crop in Tizi-Ouzou (North of Algeria), with new records

<p>Aphids are among the phytophagous pests that cause serious damage to crop plants. In Northern Algeria, we have little information on their diversity. In this context, the study of the diversity of aphids was carried out in three regions of Tizi-Ouzou (North of Algeria) namely Tizi-Ouzou center, Tizi-Rached and Aghribs on the potato crop using yellow traps. The results showed a total richness of 65 aphid species, divided into 36 genera, 9 tribes and 8 sub-families, of which 11 species were identified for the first time in Algeria. These are <em>Aphis coreopsidis</em> (Thomas, 1878), <em>Capitophorus hippophae</em> (Walker, 1852), <em>Cavariella theobaldi </em>(Gillette &amp; Bragg, 1918), <em>Hyadaphis coriandri </em>(B. Das, 1918), <em>Macrosiphoniella linariae </em>(Koch, 1855),<em>Monelliopsis pecanis </em>Bissell, 1983, <em>Myzus hemerocallis</em> Takahashi, 1921, <em>Pseudoregma panicola </em>(Takahashi, 1921), <em>Rhopalosiphoninus staphyleae</em> (Koch, 1854), <em>Schizaphis eastopi</em> Van Harten &amp; Ilharco, 1971 and <em>Ovatus inulae </em>(Walker, 1849)<em>. </em>The field located in the center of Tizi-Ouzou is the richest with 55 species, followed by the field of Tizi-Rached with 30 species, and 24 species have been recorded in Aghribs. During the sampling season, <em>Hyperomyzus lactucae</em> (Linnaeus, 1758) and <em>Brachycaudus helichrysi</em> (Kaltenbach, 1843) are the most abundant species with 24.44 % and 21.8 % respectively. Three aphid species have been observed on potato leaves, namely <em>Macrosiphum</em> <em>euphorbiae</em> (Thomas, 1878), <em>Aphis</em> <em>gossypii</em> Glover, 1877 and <em>Myzus persicae</em> (Sulzer, 1776). The latter species was observed in all three study regions.</p>

Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Plum and Cherry Plum in Bulgaria

The species complex and infestations of aphids on plum (Prunus persica) and cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera) in Bulgaria were investigated during the period 2013–2018. Nine species from the family Aphididae were found: Brachycaudus helichrysi Kaltenbach (leaf-curling plum aphid), Hyalopterus pruni Geoffroy (mealy plum aphid), Phorodon humuli Schrank (hop aphid), Brachycaudus prunicola Kaltenbach (brown plum aphid), Brachycaudus cardui Linnaeus (thistle aphid), Brachycaudus persicae Passerini (black peach aphid), Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae Linnaeus (waterlily aphid), Aphis spiraecola Patch (spiraea aphid) and Pterochloroides persicae Cholodkovsky (peach trunk aphid). The dominant species on plum are Hyalopterus pruni and Brachycaudus helichrysi. The first species is more widespread and of significantly higher density. The dominant species on cherry plum are Phorodon humuli and B. helichrysi. The species Brachycaudus prunicola is widespread both on plum and cherry plum in Bulgaria. It was found only on twigs, and therefore cannot be considered as a dangerous pest on fruit-bearing plum trees. The other species, some of them described as dangerous pests on plum, are today fairly rare and occur in low density, thus posing no danger to orchards.

The phytosanitary status of sunflower crops оf north-eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

The high economic efficiency of sunflower growing contributed to a sharp increase in the sunflower planting acreage in Sumy region. The increase of cultivated areas under sunflower resulted in an oversaturation of crop rotations with this crop. The study of the phytosanitary status of sunflower crops was carried out in the basic farms of the phytosanitary security department of the Main Office of State Consumer Service (Derzhprodsluzhba) in Sumy region. The research methodology was commonly accepted. The main pests of sunflower crops were grey beet weevil (Tanymecus palliates Fabr.), larvae of common click beetle (Agriotes sputator L.), darkling beetle (Opatrum sabulosum L.), larvae of the western may beetle (Melolontha melolontha L.), leafcurl plum aphid (Brachycaudus helichrysi Kalt). The sunflower seedlings were damaged grey beet weevil, darkling beetle. The most widespread soil pests were the larvae of the western may beetle and larvae of common click beetle. Leafcurl plum aphid populated sunflower crops with 6‒8 pairs of true leaves. It continued to spread across the field during the inflorescence stage and the stage of initial blossom. The highest pest colonization was observed at the edge of the field in 2015, 2017 and accounted for 16 % of the plants. In the middle of the field, the aphid colonization was lower than at the edge. During the years of research, the economic threshold of sunflower pest harmfulness was exceeded only in some years. Sunflower damage by grey weevil beet, larvae of common click beetle, darkling beetle, larvae of the western may beetle was weak, and their number was insignificant. The increase of sunflower acreage did not lead to a significant growth of pest number, the exceeding of economic threshold of their harmfulness.