Biological control of the lupin aphid, Macrosiphum albifrons

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The lupin aphid and how to control it in an environmenally friendly way

The lupin aphid, Macrosiphum albifrons (Order: Homoptera; Family

: Aphididae) lives, as its name suggests, on lupin (Lupinus sp), and is highly damaging. It has a bluish-green body covered with a white wax. Its large size of 3.5 - 4.5 mm, makes it easily distinguishable from other aphid species.

Lupin aphids
Whitney Crenshaw

It is widely distributed in the United States and is now spreading through Europe since its first occurrence in England in 1981.

CONTENTS AT A GLANCE

Biology of the lupin aphid

Macrosiphum albifrons spends its entire life cycle on lupin. The first wingless females appear in June. They reproduce parthenogenetically (i.e. the ova develops without fertilisation) and produce life, parthenogenetic daughters. In hot, dry weather, the population grows rapidly and in July the stems of lupin plants can be completely covered in closely packed aphid colonies.

Damage of the lupin aphid

A healthy

Lupinus albus Photographer Ghislain118

Severe aphid infestations are highly damaging to the plants. Their flowers wilt and die, and eventually the whole plant may succumb. In addition, the lupin aphid may help the spread of bean yellow mosaic virus, which has been foundin Lupinus albus.

Natural enemies of the lupin aphid

M. albifrons has a variety of natural enemies: coccinellids, larvae ofsyrphids and chrysopids, and parasitic wasps. However, these species have little or no impact on the aphids if they occur on bitter cultivars of lupin, as the high alkaloid content of these cultivars render the aphids poisonous to their enemies.

It was found, for example, that larvae of the ladybird Coccinella septempunctata fed on lupin aphids from bitter cultivars (L. albus, L. angustifolius and L. mutabilis) died after around three days. However, hoverfly and lacewing larvae appeared less sensitive and some developed to adulthood.

Coccinella septempunctata
Reytan

Such negative effects on the natural enemies were not found on the alkaloid-poor sweet cultivars (especially the sweet

cultivar of L. albus).

A Praon wasp parasitised an aphid

Photographer Sarefo

On our own lupin we found some lupin aphids that were parasitised by a parasitic wasp (Praon spp). The aphids were transformed into mummies from which later new wasps emerged.

Treatment of the lupin aphid

To give natural enemies a chance, it is advised to plant sweet cultivars of lupin.
Lure hoverflies to the garden, by growing flowers with flat flower heads, such as peony, daisy, dill and other crucifera.

A few important or interesting links

The Lupin Aphid (Macrosiphum albifrons Essig, 1911) (Hom., Aphididae) in West Germany: its occurrence, host plants and natural enemies - Gruppe - 2009 - Journal of Applied Entomology - Wiley Online Library: The North American Lupin Aphid Macrosiphum albifrons Essig, 1911 has been observed in Europe for the first time in 1981.
Lupin Aphid: This page contains links to the plant and gardening advice for gardeners.
Bean yellow mosaic virus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Bean yellow mosaic virus
ASP Net: First Report of Bean yellow mosaic virus from Diseased Lupinus luteus in Eastern Washington

Plant Guy

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Aphids are nasty little buggers that have wrecked my lupines in the past!