Flight activity and weed hosts of Macrosiphini (Homoptera: Aphididae) in Canterbury

Abstract

Abstract The flight activity of 29 species of Macrosiphini, recorded over 6 years in a suction trap at Lincoln, is reported. Flight phenology and weed hosts of 20 species are described. The host plant relations of Myzuspersicae (Sulzer) were examined. Mallow (Malva neglecta Wallred) and black nightshade (Solarium nigrum L.) were favourable hosts, while few M. persicae were found on white clover (Trifolium repens L.) or yarrow (Achillea millefoliun L.). Aulacorthum solani Kaltenbach was the predominant aphid species on white clover and yarrow in the field, together with Myzus ascalonicus Doncaster on yarrow. These three aphid species were vectors of beet western yellows virus (BWYV), while hosts of BWYV include the weed species named. It is suggested that BWYV has a broad ecological base of hosts and vectors in Canterbury.