Records of predators of the green apple aphid, Aphis pomi De Geer, from Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Nine species of coccinellids (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and three species of syrphid (Diptera: Syrphidae) predators of the green apple aphid, Aphis pomi De Geer, occurring in apple nurseries in Himachal Pradesh are reported. The coccinellids included Cheilomenes sexmaculata (F.), Coccinella septempunctata (L.), Coccinella transversalis F., Coelophora bissellata (Mulsant), Coelophora saucia (Mulsant), Harmonia dimidiata (F.), Hippodamia variegata (Goeze), Oenopia sauzeti (Mulsant) and Priscibrumus uropygialis (Mulsant), while the syrphids included Betasyrphus serarius (Wiedemann), Episyrphus balteatus De Geer and Metasyrphus confrater (Wiedemann). Of the coccinellids, C. sexmaculata, C. bissellata, C. saucia and H. dimidiata were found to be more effective for the natural suppression of A. pomi in apple nurseries in the state.

Keywords

• Green apple aphid (Aphis pomi)
• coccinellid
• syrphid predators
• natural suppression