Current Status and Future Trends of Augmentative Release of Aphidius gifuensis for Control of Myzus persicae in China’s Yunnan Province

Abstract

 Augmentative releases of Aphidius gifuensis have been made in Yunnan Province of China for more than 10 years, and much work has been conducted in this biological control programme. In this article, mass rearing and release techniques of A. gifuensis were detailed and its control efficacy and economic costs were further reviewed, showing its high potentials for control of Myzus persicae. However, as wider and long term release of A. gifuensis, some techniques of mass rearing and release should be further improved or optimized, including winter host selection of M. persicae, management of hyperparasitoids and timing and quantity of release. Moreover, efficacy evaluation currently focused on the decrease of aphids’ population densities, but failed to consider other aspects like environmental impacts, possibly lowering the benefits of augmentative release of A. gifuensis. This suggested more work should be further done in this biological control programme.