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A living parasitoid often hailed as a natural savior, Aphidius ervi is a parasitic wasp species widely used to control aphid infestations in greenhouse environments. Known for its aggressive efficiency, a single female A. ervi can lay up to 50 eggs per day, infecting hundreds of aphids within just a few days. Once an egg is deposited, the developing larva begins to feed on the aphid’s internal tissues, consuming it from the inside until only an empty husk remains. After 7 to 10 days, the larva pupates within the aphid’s body, forming a characteristic “mummy.” Upon maturity, the adult wasp chews a small, circular exit hole to emerge. Adult wasps do not feed on aphids; instead, they sustain themselves on nectar and water.

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https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/aphidius-colemani-and-aphidius-ervi-biological-control-agents-of-aphids_MF3653.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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Aphidius ervi (Parasitic Wasp): Biological Control of Aphids

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Aphidius ervi, a parasitic wasp, is effective for aphid control. This natural enemy effectively parasitizes on aphids. Protect your crop with Aphidius ervi.

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An essential organism for Organic Agriculture.

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An essential organism for Organic Agriculture.

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Aphidius ervi has been widely adopted as an effective alternative to toxic pesticides, making it a valuable tool for maintaining organic crop production. As adults, A. ervi wasps are among the few parasitoid species known for their remarkable ability to detect and selectively target suitable aphid hosts. Once an egg is deposited inside the host, the larva does not kill the aphid immediately. Instead, to ensure a continuous food source, it consumes non-vital tissues first—delaying the host’s death until the final stages of development, when vital organs are digested. These wasps typically parasitize two major aphid species: the potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae) and the foxglove aphid (Aulacorthum solani).

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-K0482MQGQ

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Biological controls in Action: Parasitic Wasps(Aphidius ervi)

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Aphidius ervi's effectiveness is heavily influenced by environmental conditions, particularly temperature. Throughout its life cycle, temperature has been shown to directly affect how quickly the parasitoid develops. Research indicates that at 25 °C, A. ervi can complete development from egg to mummy in approximately 11.1 days, and at 30 °C, this stage shortens to about 8.3 days. Similarly, the mummy-to-adult stage accelerates from 7.9 days at 25 °C to 5.8 days at 30 °C, effectively doubling the speed of development compared to cooler conditions. However, exposure to temperatures above 30 °C can lead to heat stress, which reduces parasitism rates and may be fatal to the wasp.

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https://pps.agriculturejournals.cz/pdfs/pps/2008/01/04.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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Aphidius ervi exhibits a haplodiploid reproductive system, where fertilized eggs become females and unfertilized eggs become males. Females are typically monandrous—mating only once—while males are polygynous and become more effective with mating experience. Field populations often show a female-biased sex ratio, roughly 1 male to every 1.9 females. Additionally, females tend to allocate daughters to larger aphid hosts, which provide more resources for successful development. This sex allocation strategy maximizes reproductive success and supports more effective biological control in pest management.

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https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1049964408000625#:~:text=ervi%2C%20(1)%20both%20sexes,the%20number%20of%20matings%20varies

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