The influence of beetle banks on aphid population predation in winter wheat.

Abstract

Exclosures were used to study the effect of predation by polyphagous arthropods on the grain aphid (Sitobion avenae), at increasing distances away from a beetle bank. Overall polyphagous predator density was significantly lower in the exclosures when compared to the controls. At the peak of the aphid infestation, S. avenae numbers were significantly higher within the exclosures. S. avenae densities also increased with distance away from the beetle bank.