Prey species preference by Aphidoletes aphidimyza R. (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) on Brevicoryne brassicae L., Aphis gossypii G. and Aphis craccivora K. (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in laboratory conditions

It is necessary to have enough knowledge on the preferred prey of the insect predators before to mass rearing and using them in pest control programs. Prey preference of four days old Aphidoletes aphidomyza Rondani larvae to three prey species as Aphis craccivora Koch, Aphis gosssypii Goeze and Brevicoryne brassicae L. was evaluated under laboratory conditions (22±1°C and 70±5% RH, with a 16:8 L: D hours photoperiod). The results showed that the larvae of A. aphidimyza preferred B. brassicae (more than 40%) to A. gosssypii and A. craccivora (P <0.0001). The manly´s α index of B. brassicae, A. gossypii and A. craccivora were also 0.498, 0.33 and 0.168, respectively indicating the same trend of prey preference. The results showed that the larvae of this predator play an important role in controlling of B. brassicae rather than A. gossypii and A. craccivora.