Aphelinidae

Beneficial organism - Aphid parasitoids

Photo credits : Hullé M., Turpeau E., Chaubet B., 2006. <a href="http://doi.org/10.15454/1.4333379890530916E12">Encyclop'aphid</a>, INRA

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Aphelinus mali adult

General description

Classification	Insect - Hymenoptera - Aphelinidae
Description	Microhymenoptera (0.7 to 1.1 mm) with a black body, yellow abdomen at the base, yellow antennae with a blackish pedicel, black front and median legs, yellow tips of the femora and tibiae
Type ofauxiliary	Aphelinus Mali is a specialised parasitoid of the woolly apple aphid.
Area of occurrence	Metropolitan France
Crops concerned and host plants	Apple, Pear, Quince

Biology and epidemiology

Stage	Food	Habitat	Other survival conditions	Favourable and optimal conditions for development	Period
Pupa		Parasitizedwoolly adelgid			Winter
Larvae	Aphids	Aphids
Adult	Aphids			When temperatures are above 25°C. They are therefore more active in warmer regions. To encourage their action, avoid using toxic products during the 1st generation(April).	1st generation in April The following generations, from June to early August, overlap with the 1st generation.

Comments and possible clarifications :

The females of this hymenoptera lay their eggs directly in woolly aphids. Each female parasitises between 60 and 100 aphids per year. Eggs laid in the adult and final larval stages do not kill the aphid, which can still produce partial offspring. Approximately 10 generations per year.

The woolly adelgid population evolves much faster than that of Aphelinus mali (more generations per year, more offspring, shorter cycle). High populations are difficult to regulate because the aphid "layers" above protect the individuals below.

In the field

Assessing presence

Place yellow sticky plates from early April, identify with binoculars.

Conditions of effectiveness

The action of this beneficial insect should always be complemented by the presence of forficulae, which are major consumers of aphids.

Population required to control pests and diseases

Unknown

Sensitivity to chemical families

It is recommended to limit the use of chemical families to which the beneficials are sensitive so as not to limit their population.

See the e-phy page associated with this beneficiary.

For further information

Auxiliaries in arboriculture - Guide to essential auxiliaries : Aphelinus mali, predatory bugs and predatory mites (2012)

BAYER

Technical brochure

Parasitoid Hymenoptera

E-phytia

Website

Aphelinus Mali Haldeman 1851

Encyclop'Aphid

Website

Woolly adelgid

ITAB (by Charles de Schaetzen, GORSEM Royal Research Centre)

Technical brochure

See page 31 onwards

Plant protection dossier - ECOFRUIT 2010

GRAB (Claude Eric Parveaud, François Warlop)

Technical brochure

Resource persons

Charles de Schaetzen, Royal Research Centre Gorsem, Belgium

Claude-Eric Parveaud, GRAB Valence, France

François Warlop, GRAB Avignon

Annexes

Régule les bioagresseurs

• Woolly adelgid (Eriosoma lanigerum)