Generalist predators can impact populations of pest herbivores in agro-ecosystems. In particular, generalist predators present in a field before the pest arrives can suppress population growth by killing pest individuals while their population density is low. The soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumara, has recently invaded North American soybeans from Asia. Among several indigenous generalist predators attacking soybean aphid in soybean fields in Indiana, the most numerous, and the one present at the highest levels when soybean aphids arrive, is the hemipteran, Orius insidiosus Say. We studied the ability of O. insidiosus to impact soybean aphid populations in the laboratory and the field. In the laboratory, we found that O. insidiosus can suppress aphid population growth over a wide range of starting aphid densities. This also held true in caged field experiments. These data will be used to model O. insidiosus impact on soybean aphid population dynamics.
Species 1: Heteroptera Anthocoridae Orius insidiosus (minute pirate bug)
Species 2: Homoptera Aphididae Aphis glycines (soybean aphid)
Keywords: suppression, biological control
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