Biological control of forest aphid pests in Africa

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Abstract
The aphids, Cinara cupressi (Buckton), Eulachnus rileyi Williams and Pineus pini (Macquart), have invaded conifer plantations in southern and eastern Africa between 1968 and 1986. Conifer plantations, and particularly pine plantations, are a new habitat in this region, having been established in the 1960s and 1970s. These aphids are the first non-native pests to colonize these forest plantations. As exotic pests, the aphids are suitable targets for classical biological control through the importation of natural enemies from Europe, the region of origin of the three aphids. The opportunities for biological control are explored and the prospects are encouraging. Details of the natural enemy complexes of the target pests in Europe are provided and discussed in relation to previous successful biological control programmes against conifer pests in other continents.