Melanaphis sorghi (Theobald, 1904) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), an invasive sorghum pest in the American continent, is a host of Aphidius platensis (Brèthes, 1913) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) in Brazil

Abstract

Melanaphis sorghi (Theobald, 1904) is an invasive species recently introduced in the American continent and has been causing great losses in the sorghum crop. In surveys carried out in the cities of Uberlândia and Sete Lagoas, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, during the year 2021, mummified specimens of M. sorghi were collected on sorghum plants, from which the parasitoid Aphidius platensis (Brèthes, 1913) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) and the hyperparasitoids Syrphophagus sp. and Pachyneuron sp. emerged. This is the first record of A. platensis parasitizing M. sorghi in Brazil.

Keywords

• Aphid
• aphid parasitoid
• biological control
• cereal aphid
• hyperparasitoid