APHIDOPHAGOUS INSECTS OF THE MEALY PLUM APHID Hyalopterus pruni (GEOFFROY) IN APRICOT AT SHARKIA GOVERNORATE, EGYPT

The present investigation was carried out at El-Khattara District, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt during 2017 and 2018 seasons to evaluate the population density of the aphidophagous insects of the mealy plum aphid Hyalopterus pruni in apricot. Two parasitoid species belonging to Aphidius colemani Viereck and Aphidius picipes (Nees) and eight predator species, namly: Chrysoperla carnea Steph., Chrysopa septempunctata, Waesmael, Ccoccinella septempunctata, Coccinella undecimpunctata L., Aphidoletes aphidimyza Rond., Syrphus corollae F., Cydonia vicinia nilotica Muls. and Scymnus interruptus Goeze were recorded. C. undecimpunctata came in first rank (16.75 and 17.74%) followed by C. carnea (14.85 and 17.16%) followed by C. septempunctata (12.61 and 14.96%) then Cydonia vicinia nilotica (12.26 and 12.76%), while Ch. septempunctata, S. corollae, Scymnus interruptus and A. aphidimyza were represented by (11.92 and 11.87%), (11.40 and 9.53%), (10.71 and 9.53%), (9.50 and 6.45%), from the total number of aphid predators during 2017 and 2018 seasons, respectively. The highest percentage of parasitism by the two parasitoids were recorded on the first and last week of May (37.20 and 50.00%) during 2017 season, while in the second season (2018) were recorded in the first week of both May and June (43.28 and 62.01%) respectively, with an average percentage of parasitism 27.12 and 35.98% during the two successive seasons, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that temperature and relative humidity were significant with some insects and insignificant with the other. In general, the parasitoid A. colemani and the predator C. undecimpunctata, could be mass reared and released for controlling H. pruni on apricot trees include integrated pest management programs and crop management against H. pruni to save the environment from pollution.