Aphids species on potato crops in Canterbury

Abstract

A survey of aphids infesting table processing and seed potato crops was undertaken in Canterbury during the 19992000 season (November March) The green peach aphid (Myzus persicae (Sulzer)) was the most common aphid found on potato plants (>85 of all aphids) followed by the foxglove aphid (Aulacorthum solani (Kaltenbach)) and the potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas)) These three aphids are vectors of the potato leaf roll virus (PLRV) and other potato viruses A further eight species were found in low numbers including five species that are vectors of potato viruses (not PLRV) The melon aphid (Aphis gossypii Glover) was found in sizable numbers on sprayed potatoes in the Hawkes Bay This species which is known to have developed resistance to some insecticides on other crops in New Zealand was found in only low numbers in three crops in Canterbury