Habitat Management and Biological Control for Aphids in China

Aphids are among the most abundant and destructive insect pests of agriculture, particularly in temperate regions, their feeding can directly and indirectly damage the crop and influence yield, and they can vector yield-sapping pathogens. Moreover, honeydew, the aphid excretory product, rich in sugars and amino acids, also provides an ideal environment for the development of saprophytic fungal organisms, which reduces transpiration and photosynthesis, affecting growth and development of the plant. To reduce reliance on this pesticide use and associated economic, environmental, and health costs, we tried to promote the application of infochemicals and intercropping as efficient biological control agents by developing alternative strategies for aphid biological control. In this book, the main objective was to promote the intercropping and infochemical releasers as Integrated Pest Management (IPM) agents by developing alternative strategies for aphid control in crops.