Changes over the last ten years in the fauna structure of aphids inhabiting the vegetation of allotment gardens in Poznań

Abstract

The vegetation of allotment gardens is an important element of urban green areas and constitutes a habitat where many groups of insects exist, including aphids. This research involved the monitoring of winged morphs of aphids in allotment gardens in the area of Poznań with the use of Moericke traps. The fauna structure of aphids in two large allotment gardens was demonstrated by comparing the activity of winged morphs of aphids in 2000–2001 and 2014–2015. The vegetation of these gardens was accompanied by the rich fauna of aphids. For four growing seasons, 113 species or groups of aphid species were captured with the traps. Major changes were reported in the structure of the collected fauna in the period of time when the research was conducted. The differences concerned particular positions of collected species in aphid communities. The abundance of Anoecia corni, Aphis sambuci, Phorodon humuli and Periphyllus testudinaceus increased, and now hold the position of subdominants of the communities, whereas Myzus persicae and Hyalopterus pruni decreased in comparison with the situation more than ten years ago. Rhopalosiphum padi still remains an eudominant in the communities. The main reason for this phenomenon is thought to be due to changes in the vegetation composition of gardens because the gardens are being used differently. The production function has changed to recreation.