Development, Feeding Habits, and Predator-Prey Relations of Insect Predators of the Balsam Woolly Aphid, Adelges piceae (Ratz.) (Homoptera: Adelgidae), Recently Introduced into Canada

Abstract

Smith and Coppel (in preparation) listed the releases and reviewed the bionomics in Europe of insect predators of the balsam woolly aphid, Adelges piceae (Ratz.), recently introduced into Canada. The most promising species released since 1951 are Aphidecta obliterata (L.) and Pullus impexus (Muls.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) ,Cremifania nigrocellulata Cz.(Diptera: Chamaemyiidae), and Laricobius erichsonii Rosenh. (Coleoptera: Derodontidae). All these species, with the possible exception of A. obliterata, are established near Fredericton, New Brunswick. Investigations in co-operation with the Forest Biology Laboratory, Fredericton, were begun in 1951 on the behaviour and initial establishment of the introduced predators (Clark, Brown, and Smith, 1954). The present paper contains field and laboratory observations on the development, feeding habits, and predator-prey relations of the four promising species.