Effect of Adult Coccinellidae on the Spread of a Plant Virus by an Aphid

Abstract
The influence of adult coccinellids Coccinella californica Mannerheim on the spread of a pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) transmitted plant virus (bean yellow mosaic virus) was studied in field cases. Aphids in cages containing adult coccinellids frequently moved among food plants (broad bean); only 4 of 74 aphids in the coccinellid-free cage left the original plant. New virus infections occurred more often and the virus spread further in cages with aphids and coccinellids than in cages with only aphids. The role of predators in the spread of plant viruses by aphids is discussed.

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