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.
Keyword :
Green apple aphid (Aphis pomi), coccinellid and syrphid predators, natural suppression.