Establishment and dispersal of the introduced parasiteAphidius eadyi(Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) in the North Island of New Zealand, and its initial effect on pea aphid

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Abstract
Aphidius eadyi Stary, Gonzales, & Hall, an introduced parasite of Acyrthosiphon pisum, was recovered in the Helensville area in December 1977. It overwintered successfully, and in I year dispersed 120 km northward to Ruakaka and a similar distance southward to Hamilton. Parasitism was recorded in the field from September to May. The parasite was well synchronised with pea aphid populations, and parasitism rates frequently reached populations when the non-host species Acyrthosiphon kondoi was the dominant aphid. Comparison of areas with and without parasites, in space and time, indicated that A. eadyi had reduced pea aphid populations, possibly because of its ability to respond to increasing pea aphid densities.