Identification of the most common predatory hoverflies of Mediterranean vegetable crops and their parasitism using multiplex PCR

摘要: The larvae of many hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) are important polyphagous predators used in integrated pest management programs. Because the accurate identification preimaginal stages by morphological characters is difficult, we have developed a multiplex PCR to identify immature and/or adult most common syrphid species Mediterranean vegetable crops: Episyrphus balteatus, Scaeva pyrastri, Eupeodes corollae, Meliscaeva auricollis, Sphaerophoria scripta, and rueppellii. latter two were amplified same primer pair due high similarity their cytochrome oxidase subunit I sequences. Additionally, assay included targeting Diplazon laetatorius, koinobiont ichneumonid endoparasitoid predatory larvae. proved be highly specific sensitive, it was study assemblage hoverfly larval stage lettuce crops consecutive years. molecular analysis revealed that Eu. Ep. Sph. scripta/Sph. rueppellii present investigated fields. Species composition differed depending on sampling date whether collected plants or ground. parasitoid D. laetatorius not detected any analyzed larvae, suggesting low-parasitism pressure studied populations. wide distribution these makes this an ideal tool deepen our knowledge ecology improve use control insect pests.