THE PHENOLOGY AND DISTRIBUTION OF APHIDS IN CALIFORNIA ALFALFA AS MODIFIED BY LADYBIRD BEETLE PREDATION (COLEOPTERA: COCCINELLIDAE)

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Abstract
The phenologies and distributions of pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris)), blue alfalfa aphid (A. kondoi (Shinji)), and spotted alfalfa aphid (Therioaphis maculata (Buckton)) were intensively studied in California alfalfa. The results showed, as expected, that aphid populations across all densities were aggregated; but that ladybird beetle (Hippodamia convergens (G.-M.)) predation increased the degree of aggregation. The distribution parameters of the aphids were estimated using methods developed by Iwao and Kuno (1971).