engleski

Giant black bark peach aphid Pterochloroides persicae Cholodk. (Homoptera: Lacnidae)

Giant black bark aphid Pterochloroides persicae was observed at the end of seventies in Croatia and since then it has been a constant member of our entomofauna. Aphid colonies are easily visible on peach shady branches and trunk parts. The great infestation causes branch decline because of aphid colonies sucking. A few years infestation induces tree decline. Aphids excrete honeydew in abundant quantity that covers plant parts and soil under attacked tree. The presence of honeydew stimulates sooty mould growth and finally flacks like petroleum appear, separately under the tree. In the most cases, this pest habits and attacks a peach (Prunus persica), although it has been determined on other prunoideae. Pterochloroides persicae characteristics had not been investigated in our region before, so we did researches including: morphology, host plants, damages, location spots, biology, ecology and posibilities of its control. Field investigations were conducted from Zadar to Dubrovnik, coast and island region, to record the pest distribution and host plants in period 1996-1998. Bioecology of Pterochloroides persicae was investigated in selected peach orchard in Split region. Infested trees were observed twice a week during spring – autumn period and twice a month during the winter. Aphid colonies life duration was observed on peach woody cuttings in the laboratory. Other than peach, colonies of Pterochloroides persicae were found on these plant species: Prunus armeniaca, P. amygdali, P. mahaleb, Mespilus germanica and on sedlings G. F. root stock. Only on the peach aphid was presented all the year. Number and size of colonies varied through the year. The type of aphid reproduction was only parthenogenesis. It overwintered at all development stages except the egg. Otherwise, the egg stage of this aphid was not noted in our conditions during our study. Aphid colonies survived up to three months on woody cuttings in the laboratory, depending on air temperature and humidity.

Pterochloroides persicae; peach

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