Longevity of Aphidius gifuensis Ashmead on flowers of 11 candidates for insectary plants

Abstract

The longevity of Aphidius gifuensis, an aphid parasitoid on flowers or leaves of buckwheat, coriander, dill, fairy fan-flower, fennel, French marigold, holly basil, Lacy phacelia, sweet alyssum, vervain and white clover was measured in the laboratory. Buckwheat, coriander, dill, fairy fan-flower, fennel and sweet alyssum flowers allowed A. gifuensis to survive longer than the corresponding leaves. Buckwheat flowers allowed the longest survivals of the parasite among all the plant flowers tested.