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Population dynamics of pine woolly aphid, Pineus pini (Gmelin) (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), in Kenya

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

A. M. Mailu ,
C. P. M. Khamala  and
D. J. W. Rose
A. M. Mailu
Affiliation:
Kenya Agriculture Research Institute, P.O. Box 30148, Nairobi, Kenya
C. P. M. Khamala
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
D. J. W. Rose
Affiliation:
Centre for Overseas Pest Research, College House, Wrights Lane, London, UK
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Abstract

The population dynamics of Pineus pini (Gmel.) was examined in two locations in the Kenya Highlands where the mean annual precipitation ranges from 620 to 1400 mm. Variations in population densities were related to rainfall. Generally, there was a marked decrease in population during the three months of heavy rainfall in March to May and a significant increase during dry weather from August to October. This was followed by a slight decrease in the rate of population build-up, until the long rains in April again resulted in another population collapse. Nine species of predatory insects were identified, and population fluctuations of the most common of these, Exochomus spp., was studied. Predators seemed to remove about 12% of the aphid population. Other mortality factors included heat and crawler dispersion. The greatest mortality occurred early in the life-cycle and was mainly due to eggs and crawlers being washed off the host-tree by rain.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 70 , Issue 3 , September 1980 , pp. 483 - 490
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1980

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