Species Composition of Aphids (Hemiptera, Aphididae) on Seed Potato Plantings in Northwest Russia

Abstract

Collections using yellow water traps revealed from 20 to 43 species of aphids on seed potato plantings in the farms of Northwest Russia in 2013–2017. Among them, from 2 to 5 species were vectors of potato viruses; aphids of these species together comprised 12.5–36% of the total number of captured aphids. The remaining 18–38 aphid species attracted to yellow traps were associated with vegetable, fruit and berry crops, weeds, trees, and shrubs surrounding potato plantings in the study areas. The species number and abundance of aphids depended on weather conditions, insecticide treatments, and the presence of home gardens near the traps. Up to 7 aphid species feeding on potatoes were recorded using the “100 leaves” sampling method; 6 of them are vectors of viral potato diseases: Aphis fabae Scop., A. nasturtii Kalt., A. frangulae Kalt., Aulacorthum solani Kalt., Macrosiphum euphorbiae Thomas, and Myzus persicae Sulz.