Development of Aphelinus asychis (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) its susceptibility to insecticides applied to mummies of its host, the green peach aphid

We examined the suitability of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), as a host for Aphelinus asychis Walker. The solitary parasitoid, A. asychis imported from France, has adapted to M. persicae reared on potatoes in the laboratory. Females deposited about 95 eggs over 21 d in various stages of the aphid including alates. The mean emergence was 83.3%, and the highest 92.3%. The longevity of female adult parasitoids was about 20 d. Total larval developmental time (14.5 d) was shorter than the adult longevity of females. Parasitoid larvae inside M. persicae mummies were less susceptible to the selective aphicide pirimicarb than to the broad spectrum chemicals, methamidophos and disulfoton. The mean daily emergence (6.1%) and cumulative emergence (73.3%) from mummies treated by pirimicarb were significantly higher than those from mummies treated by methamidophos (4.1 and 49.2%) and disulfoton (0.6 and 6.7%). The high fecundity and emergence, and reduced susceptibility of A. asychis to the pirimicarb show its potential as a biological control agent in integrated pest management programs for green peach aphid.