Multi-state comparison of aphid community composition in prairies

The advent of Aphis glycines (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in North America has significantly increased the use of insecticides in soybean in the North central region of the U.S. In response to the frequent outbreaks of A. glycines in soybean, a classical biological control program has been implemented. The program has resulted in the release of Binodoxys communis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) for biological control of A. glycines in 2007. As a complementary portion of the biological control program, a multi-state survey of aphids in prairies was conducted during 2006 and 2007. The survey’s objectives were to (1) study prairie aphid community structure before the release of B. communis and (2) identify potential non-target aphid species. Surveys were conducted in Indiana, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Aphids were surveyed from June through August through the use of transect sampling. The aboveground portions of all plants were visually inspected for aphids. In all, we identified more than 75 species of aphids. A total of 67 species were found in Indiana, 49 in Iowa, and 15 in Wisconsin. Other aphids in the genus Aphis may be potential hosts of B. communis. We found 15 species of Aphis in Indiana, 10 in Iowa, and 5 in Wisconsin. Differences in community composition would demonstrate the need to perform a multi-state investigations into the non-target impacts of B. communis. A multivariate statistical analysis will be used to sort out differences in aphid community composition among the three states.