Natural Enemies of Sugarcane Aphid, Melanaphis sacchari Zehntner1, in Southern Tamaulipas, Mexico

Abstract

Sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari Zehntner (Hemiptera: Aphididae), can greatly reduce yield potential of sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. Sugarcane aphid and its natural enemies were sampled in pesticide-free fields at Altamira, Tamaulipas, Mexico, during a 2-year period. Seven species of predators identified were: Orius sp. Wolff (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), Cycloneda sanguinea (L.), Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Méneville, and Scymnus sp. Kugelann (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae); Chrysoperla sp. Steinmann (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae); and Eosalpingogaster sp. Hull, and Eupeodes sp. Osten-Sacken (Diptera: Syrphidae). Five parasitoid species associated with the pest were Pachyneuron aphidis Bouché and Pachyneuron muscarum L. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), Lysiphlebus testaceipes Cresson (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), and Aphelinus mali Haldeman and Aphelinus varipes Förster (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). Pachyneuron spp. parasitized 68.25%, while other parasitoids parasitized 6.44% of the aphids sampled. This research furthers understanding of already existing and ongoing parasitism/predation and enriches knowledge of natural enemies that can be used as biological control agents against M. sacchari. A. mali, P. aphidis, and P. muscarum were reported as parasitoids of M. sacchari.