Aphelinus abdominalis

The Aphelinus abdominalis is a parasitic wasp. It inhabits natural areal of some regions in Europe and Asia. The insect is a representative of the family Aphelinidae.

The adult individual of Aphelinus abdominalis is about 3 mm in length. It has rather short legs and short antennae. The female has a black thorax and a yellow abdomen. For the search of food source it flies rarely preferring to move on vegetative plant mass by walk. When Aphelinus abdominalis finds a prey the wasp inserts an ovipositor in its body and lays eggs. This process takes 20–60 seconds. The entomophage is able to parasitize on the most of ontogenesis stages including a winged individual of the pest. But it prefers the 2nd and the 3rd stages of pest ontogenesis. The larva develops in the body of the pest. During 7 days of larva development an affected aphid is transformed into a black mummy. After 8 days a formed adult entomophage leaves the mummy. The activity of the adult (egg laying) begins in 3–4 day after release from the mummy. During life span the female is able to lay 14 eggs per day. For 3 week of her life span it lays about 250 eggs. As an alternative food source it can use pest sugary excretions.

Aphelinus abdominalis Aphelinus abdominalis Aphelinus abdominalis

Application

Although Aphelinus abdominalis is able to affect the large aphid species it is usually applied for biological control of the potato aphid (Macrosifum euphorbia) and the glasshouse potato aphid (Aulacorthum solani). Aphelinus is used for several crops in glass-covered ground: sweet peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, gerberas, roses and chrysanthemums. The parasitic wasp should be introduced in a greenhouse when the first signs of aphids emerge. Invasion is realized in amounts of 0.5–2 individuals per 1 m2, dependently on the population density of the pest and hydrothermal conditions. If necessary invasions are repeated. The releases are made locally into the focuses of developed pest populations. The application of Aphelinus abdominalis is effective together with other entomophages (Aphidius ervi, Aphidoletes aphidimisa and etc.). The entomophage requires high temperature for intensive activity.

Advantages

  • a wide range of protected crops;
  • the long time of life activity;
  • the absence of hyperparasitism phenomenon;
  • handy to use in the monitoring of entomophage life activity;

Storage and transportation

  • store and transport at a temperature of 6–8°C;
  • keep out of direct sunlight;
  • apply within 18 hours since the moment of reception.