Aphids caught on sticky traps in eastern England in relation to the spread of yellowing viruses of sugar-beet

Abstract

AbstractLong-term records of aphid catches on two sticky traps, one at Rothamsted (1942–64) and one at Broom's Barn (1960–64) are extended to 1973 and are supplemented by data from up to 12 sticky traps in sugar-beet crops in eastern England (1960–73). The incidence of yellowing viruses of sugar-beet between 1965 and 1973 showed no relation to aphid numbers, but between 1942 and 1973 the pattern of annual incidence was similar to that of numbers of Myzus persicae (Sulz.) trapped in May and June. Linear regressions of the incidence of yellowing viruses on numbers of M. persicae in May and June accounted for 28–57% of the variance, and on Aphis fabae group for 2–40% of the variance. It is concluded that sticky traps provide useful information for advisory entomologists and that there has been no general increase in aphid numbers over the last 30 years.