The technical team of the Huelva-based company Atlantic Blue, devoted to the production of berries, has identified a new species of aphid parasitoid (Aphidius ericaphidis) in Spain, in the province of Huelva, which has been shown to be effective against the Ericaphis scammelli, an aphid that mostly attacks blueberries and which was identified in Huelva in 2012. Since then, the damages caused to the crop by it have been increasing year after year, as its presence has been favored by the mild winters of recent years.
Until now, this aphid had the peculiarity of not being affected by any parasitoids, unlike other more frequent and well-known aphids. For this reason, the arrival and identification of this new parasitoid species could be a breakthrough in the management of this pest. In any case, it is still essential to gain knowledge regarding the behavior and adaptation of this species.
Source: Efe / lavanguardia.com
