Aphid banker plants
Rhopalosiphum padi
Overview
Banker plants are used to breed predators or parasites within a crop.
You can use aphid banker plants to increase populations of parasitic wasps before the target pests arrive or to maintain reasonable numbers of parasitic wasps in your crop when the pest levels are low. Bankers can also be used where the crop itself is not favourable for certain beneficials to establish.
Biological Services can design an aphid banker system for any crop and pest combination.
Pests Aphid banker plants can help you control
Aphid banker plants are used to rear Aphidius colemani, which is very effective against the Green Peach Aphid (Myzus persicae) and the Cotton/Melon aphid (Aphis gossypii).
We use cereal plants to grow the Grain Aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi) which in turn hosts the parasitic wasp, Aphidius colemani. The Grain Aphid can't survive on crops such as capsicums, eggplants, cucumbers or roses and it is an excellent host for Aphidius wasps.
How Aphid banker plants controls pests among crops
Place barley or wheat plants infested with Cereal Aphids through your greenhouse. Then release Aphidius wasps onto these banker plants to allow a breeding colony of Aphidius to establish within your crop, even when there are no pest aphids present.
You will need to replace or add new banker plants every 4-6 weeks.
When properly maintained, an aphid banker plant system will give you a constant presence of aphid parasites throughout the growing season which will help you detect aphid pests early and minimise their activity.
Certain pesticides and fungicides affect this product, so please contact your local Biological Services consultant for specific advice.
How you can order Aphid banker plants
Once you obtain and grow your banker plants (wheat or barley), you can order a supply of Grain Aphids from Biological Services to release onto your cereal host.
It is very important to ensure your banker plants have not been sprayed with toxic residual insecticides as it will prevent the Grain Aphids and their parasites from establishing.
Contact your local Biological Services Consultant for more information.
Get tailored advice for your commercial crop
To speak with one of our qualified consultants about your current commercial crop challenge or to learn about the benefits of the IPM maintenance and monitoring services we provide, contact us.
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