| phenology and density of balsam twig aphid, mindarus abietinus koch (homoptera: aphididae) in relation to bud break, shoot damage, and value of fir christmas trees. | the balsam twig aphid, mindarus abietinus koch (homoptera: aphididae), is a major insect pest of balsam and fraser fir grown for christmas trees. our objectives in this study were to 1) monitor the phenology of a. abietinus in fir plantations; 2) assess relationships among m. abietinus density, tree phenology, and damage to tree foliage; and 3) develop an esthetic injury level for m. abietinus on christmas trees. we monitored phenology of m. abietinus and fir trees on three commercial christmas ... | 2003 | 14977113 |
| comparative use of mindarus abietinus (homoptera: aphididae) by two coccinellids (coleoptera: coccinellidae), the native anatis mali and the exotic harmonia axyridis, in a christmas tree plantation. | the exotic coccinellid harmonia axyridis (pallas) recently expanded its range into eastern canada and elsewhere in north america. we hypothesized that this coccinellid should be less well adapted to the prey mindarus abietinus koch. on balsam fir trees than the native coccinellid anatis mali (say), which evolved in close association with aphids on conifers in north america. we compared, under field conditions, prey use by both species by collecting data on their synchrony with m. abietinus, thei ... | 2007 | 17445366 |