THE POPULATION DYNAMICS OF APHIDS COLONISING THE SHRUBS OF ROSA CANINA L. IN URBAN CONDITIONS OF LUBLIN

Bożenna Jaśkiewicz

ABSTRACT

Studies on the species composition and population dynamics of aphids colonizing the shrubs of Rosa canina L. were conducted in the years 1999-2001 in the urban conditions of Lublin. The shrubs growing in two sites: a street (A) and a park (B) ones were selected for observation. Eight aphid species were found on rose shrubs as a result of studies, namely Myzaphis rosarum (Kalt.), Macrosiphum rosae (L.), Metopolophium dirhodum (Walk.), Chaetosiphon tetrarhodus (Walk.), Aphis fabae Scop., Maculolachnus submacula (Walk.), Longicaudus trirhodus (Walk.), Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thom.). Those aphids were more numerous in the street site (A). Their population dynamics was affected by weather conditions, especially heat periods and stormy rainfalls.

Key words: aphids, Rosa canina L., population dynamics, weather conditions..

INTRODUCTION

Roses belong to the more beautiful and most frequently used decorative plants in housing estates, urban and landscape vegetation [6]. Their decorative value is influenced by flowers, fruits and in certain species the leaves as well as the habits of shrubs [4]. Several rose species grow in Poland, dog rose (Rosa canina L.) being the most frequent one in the urban green areas. The shrubs of this species are most frequently planted individually, in small groups or uncut hedges.

A lot of phytophagous species occur on roses, among them aphids are the most numerous. As the pests sucking out the sap of the leaves, shoots and flower buds they cause discoloration and various deformations of those parts, which lowers the decorative value of roses considerably. The purpose of the present studies was to establish the species composition of aphids and the effect of weather conditions on their population dynamics on the shrubs of Rosa canina L. in urban conditions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Observations concerning the population dynamics of aphids occurring on Rosa canina L. were carried out in the years 1999-2001 in the green areas of Lublin. The studies comprised the shrubs growing in two sites: a street one – A (the area close to the Rector’s Office of the Agricultural University in Lublin) and a park one – B (the Museum of the Lublin Countryside). In each of those sites five shrubs growing close to each other were selected and those shrubs were not subjected to any chemical treatment. Five shoots of similar length were chosen at random on each plant and both winged and non-winged aphids (including the larvae) were counted there. The plants were monitored between early spring and late autumn, with about 10-days’ intervals.

The following papers were used to establish the species composition of aphids: Blackman and Eastop [3], Müller [20] and Szelęgiewicz [21].

Meteorological data were obtained from the Department of Agrometeorology of the Agricultural University in Lublin.

RESULTS

Eight aphid species were found on the shrubs of Rosa canina L. as a result of those studies, namely Myzaphis rosarum (Kalt.), Macrosiphum rosae (L.), Metopolophium dirhodum (Walk.), Chaetosiphon tetrarhodus (Walk.), Aphis fabae Scop., Maculolachnus submacula (Walk.), Longicaudus trirhodus (Walk.), Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thom.). Figures 1-4 illustrate the population dynamics of particular aphid species inhabiting the studied shrubs in two sites (A and B), while figure 5 presents the course of weather conditions in the studied years. Table 1 contents terms of appearances and disappearances of aphids and their numbers.

Myzaphis rosarum (Kalt.). In 1999, after a frosty winter and a cool spring, the first yellow-green aphids were observed in both sites in the first decade of June (tab. 1), and that was their maximum number (in site A – 22.0 aphids/shrub, in site B – 5.0 aphids/shrub) (fig. 1, 2). In subsequent observations they occurred with small intensity. Frequent heat waves in July and stormy rainfalls that washed the insects off the shoots affected the reduction of the aphid population (fig. 5). The disappearance of aphids in site A was observed in the third decade of November, and in site B much earlier – in the second decade of September (tab. 1).

The warm spring of 2000 favoured the dynamic development of aphids. Their number, especially in site A, as compared to the previous year, was much higher. In both sites the first specimens of this species were observed in the first decade of June, and their maximum fell on the third decade of June (A – 54.6 aphids/shrub, B – 12.0 aphids/shrub). The disappearance of aphids in site A was found in the second decade of December, while in site in the third decade of August.

In 2001, after a mild winter and early vegetation, the first aphids of this species were observed in the third decade of May in both sites. Their maximum in site A was observed in the first decade of July (28.4 aphids/shrub) and in site B about a week earlier – in the third decade of June (8.0 aphids/shrub). In site B no aphids were observed on rose shrubs from the third decade of August, while in site A those aphids occurred with changing intensity from the third decade of July and their number did not exceed 10 aphids/shrub. The disappearance of aphids in this site was found in the first decade of November.

Macrosiophum rosae (L.) (photo 1, 2). In 1999 the first colonies of this species in site A were observed in the first decade of June (tab. 1) and that was their maximum (119.2 aphids/shrub) (fig. 1). The following observations found out a considerable decrease of the aphid number. In the first decade of August the studies did not observe their presence on roses (tab. 1). The autumn occurrence of aphids in site A was found during two observations, in the first and second decade of September.

In site B singular specimens appeared in spring in the third decade of May (fig. 2). Their maximum population was found in the second decade of June (180.6 aphids/shrub), while their disappearance took place at the beginning of July (tab. 1). In autumn, in the second and third decade of September singular specimens of this species were observed.

In 2000 the first specimens of M. rosae appeared in site A in the first decade of May, and in the following observation (second decade of May) their maximum was found (350.8 aphids/shrub). They occurred on the studied shrubs with changing intensity until the second decade of July. Between August and the end of November, on the other hand, only singular specimens were observed on roses. The disappearance of aphids in this site took place in the first decade of December.

The first scarce aphids M. rosae were also observed in site B in spring in the first decade of May. In the two subsequent observations the aphid population increased gradually and their maximum was found in the first decade of June (141.0 aphids/shrub). The disappearance of aphids in that site took place much earlier in comparison with site A – in the second decade of July.

In 2001 the appearance of the first aphids in site A was observed in the first decade of April much earlier than in previous years. In the following observations the aphid number increased slightly and their maximum was found in the third decade of May (69.6 aphids/shrub). In summer aphids were observed on rose shrubs until the first decade of July. Individual specimens were observed again in the second decade of August. Aphids remained on the shrubs until the end of November and their higher numbers were observed in the third decade of October (40.8 aphids/shrub).

The first M. rosae aphids in site B appeared as late as in the second decade of May. The following observation found their maximum population (20.0 aphids/shrub). They occurred on the examined roses with changing intensity until the end of June. No aphids of this species were found in that site in autumn.

Metopolophium dirhodum (Walk.) (photo 3, 4). In 1999 the spring generation of yellow-green aphids of this species were observed only in site A (fig. 1). The first fundatrices were observed in the third decade of April (tab. 1). They were scarce and occurred on the examined plants for the period of about a month. No aphids of this species were observed on roses since the end of May (tab. 1). They appeared again in the second decade of September and their maximum was found in the first decade of October (49.8 aphids/shrub). The disappearance of autumn aphids was observed in the second decade of November. The first singular aphids M. dirhodum were observed in site between the third decade of September and the end of the second decade of October and their number did not exceed 10 specimens/shrub.

In 2000 the first specimens of this species were observed in site A in the second decade of April (fig. 1) and in site B in the third decade of that month (fig. 2). In site A aphids were observed throughout the four following observations and in site B only during two observations. In autumn aphids occurred only in site A. The first singular specimens were observed in the third decade of September while their highest number was found in the second decade of October (72.4 aphids/shrub). The disappearance of M. dirhodum aphids on roses took place in the first half of December.

In the spring of 2001 the occurrence of the first aphids in site A was found in the first decade of April and in site B in the second decade of May. In site A the presence of M. dirhodum on roses was observed till the third decade of May while their maximum was established in the first decade of that month (8.2 aphids/shrub). In site B no aphids of this species were found on rose bushes as early as in the first decade of June. In autumn the presence on aphids in both sites was found in the first decade of October while their maximum was established in the second decade of that month (A – 66.0 aphids/shrub, B – 6.8 aphids/shrub). The disappearance of aphids in site A took place in the first decade of December and in site B in the second decade of November. In each studied year in autumn the number of M. dirhodum aphids in both sites was much higher than the aphid number occurring in spring.

Chaetosiphon tetrarhodus (Walk.) (photo 5, 6). In 1999 scarce specimens of light green aphids Ch. tetrarhodus on rose shrubs in site A were observed between the first decade of June and the second decade of September (tab. 1). The maximum in that site was observed in the first decade of June (22.0 aphids/shrub) (fig. 3). In site B scarce colonies of this species of aphids were found between the first decade of June and the third decade of July (fig. 4). Their maximum was found in the third decade of June (0.8 aphids/shrub).

In 2000 the first specimens appeared in site A in the first decade of June. In subsequent observations the number of aphids of this species increased and the maximum was found in the third decade of June (40.2 aphids/shrub). Between the first decade of July and the first decade of October aphids occurred on roses with changing intensity. Their disappearance in that site was found in the second decade of October. Aphids Ch. tetrarhodus occurred on the shrubs of R. canina in site B between the second decade of June and the third decade of July. Their maximum numbers were established, like in site A, in the third decade of June (4.2 aphids/shrub).

In 2001 the first singular specimens of this species were observed in both sites in the third decade of May. They were the most numerous in site A in the first decade of July (10.0 aphids/shrub) and much earlier in site B – in the second decade of June (4.0 aphids/shrub). The disappearance of aphids Ch. tetrarhodus in site B was found in the third decade of August, whereas in site A – as late as in the second decade of October.

Aphis fabae Scop. The dwarf forms of this aphid were observed on the examined shrubs of R. canina.

In 1999 the population dynamics of this species of aphid in sites A and B was similar (fig. 3, 4). Aphids A. fabae occurred between the second decade of June and the second decade of July (tab. 1), and their maximum was observed in the third decade of June (A – 9.2 aphids/shrub, B – 4.0 aphids/shrub).

In 2000 the first specimens of this species in both sites were observed in the first decade of June. The following observation (second decade of June) found out the maximum both in site A (43.4 aphids/shrub) and B (12.0 aphids/shrub). The disappearance of aphids in site A was observed in the first decade of August and in site B – earlier, in the third decade of July.

In 2001 singular colonies of aphids were observed on roses in site A from the third decade of May and in site B from the second decade of June till the third decade of July. The maximum population in both sites was observed at the same time, in the first decade of July (A – 34.2 aphids/shrub, B – 12.2 aphids/shrub).

Maculolachnus submacula (Walk.) (photo 7, 8). In 1999 red-brown aphids were observed only in site A. The first specimens were found already in the third decade of April (tab. 1), and their maximum was in the third decade of June (8.2 aphids/shrub) (fig. 3). Between August and the end of the observations only singular specimens appeared. Aphids laying wintering eggs were observed in October. The disappearance of aphids took place in the second decade of November (tab. 1).

In 2000 the presence of aphids of this species was observed, like in the previous year, only in site A. The first singular specimens of M. submacula were found in the third decade of April (tab. 1). The following observation found the population maximum (24.4 aphids/shrub) (fig. 3). Those aphids remained on rose shrubs till the first decade of November with changing intensity.

In 2001 aphids M. submacula occurred in both sites. In site A the appearance of the first aphids was observed in the first decade of April (fig. 3), while in site B – in the first decade of May (fig. 4). The maximum was reached in the first decade of June (29.2 aphids/shrub) and in the first decade of August (1.2 aphid/shrub), respectively. Their disappearance in site A was found in the third decade of October, and in site B about three weeks earlier, in the first decade of October.

In unfavourable weather conditions aphids M. submacula hid in underground galleries built by ants or at the root base of roses.

Longicaudus trirhodus (Walk.). In 1999 only one light green specimen of this species was observed and it was only in site A. In the years 2000 and 2001 singular individuals were also noticed only in site A. Their presence was reported in May (fig. 3). Despite numerous observations, no aphids of this species were observed on the examined shrubs in site B (fig. 4).

Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thom.). Aphids M. euphorbiae were observed only in site A in 2001 (fig. 3). Singular green aphids of this species were reported in three observations, in the first and second decade of September and in the third of October.

DISCUSSION

Eight aphid species were reported on the shrubs of Rosa canina L. in the urban green area of Lublin, namely Myzaphis rosarum (Kalt.), Macrosiphum rosae (L.), Metopolophium dirhodum (Walk.), Chaetosiphon tetrarhodus (Walk.), Aphis fabae Scop., Maculolachnus submacula (Walk.), Longicaudus trirhodus (Walk.), Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thom.). Besides, other aphid species can appear on roses, e.g. Rhodobium porosum (Sand.) and Brachycaudus helichrysi (Kalt.) [21] but they were not found in the present studies.

The first aphids Myzaphis rosarum (Kalt.) were observed on rose shrubs at the turn of May and June, while the last specimens were reported as late as the beginning of December. This is consistent with the data presented by Szelegiewicz [21], according to whom these aphids colonise roses throughout the vegetation period.

Macrosiphum rosae (L.) was the most numerous species occurring in each studied year. This aphid appeared at the turn of April and May. It was found out that it was a species migrating facultatively onto the dipsaceous, since its colonies on roses were observed throughout the vegetation year. Similar results are reported by Börner and Heinze [5], Cichocka and Goszczyński [8] and Müller [18], whereas Lampel [17] states that this species migrates onto the dipsaceous obligatorily.

Metopolophium dirhodum (Walk.), as opposed to M. rosae, is a species that migrates obligatorily from roses to grasses. In spring it occurred on the examined shrubs only scarcely and for a very short time, from the middle of April till the end of May. On the other hand, the number of autumn colonies, appearing in September, was much bigger. This is consistent with the results presented by Cichocka and Goszczyński [8], Hand and Wiliams [10] and Müller [19, 20].

Chaetosiphon tetrarhodus (Walk.) is a monoecious and oligophagous aphid for which the main host plants are wild rose species (Rosa canina, R. rugosa, R. rubiginosa) and their cultivated varieties [3]. It is a cosmopolitan species [21], holocyclic in our climate and anholocyclic in warmer areas [3]. Its scarce presence on the examined shrubs of R. canina was most often observed between June and October. Analogous results from Rosa rugosa Thunb. were presented by Jaśkiewicz [11, 12].

Aphis fabae Scop. is a holocyclic, heteroecious and polyphagous species [3]. Dwarf individuals of those aphids colonised only the flower petals of the examined roses. Their presence was observed most frequently from June till the end of July. A similar period of the occurrence of this species, but not of dwarf specimens, on the shrubs of Spiraea vanhouttei Zabel and Chaenomeles japonica Lindl. in the green areas of Lublin is reported by Jaśkiewicz [12].

Maculolachnus submacula (Walk.) is a holocyclic and monoecious aphid. It preys first on young and then woody shoots as well as on the root base of wild and cultivated roses of non-haired shoots [3, 9]. The present studies found out its presence throughout the period of vegetation, from April till November, and the maximum in June. This is consistent with the results obtained earlier by Jaśkiewicz and Gantner [13] as well as Jaśkiewicz et al. [14].

Longicaudus trirhodus (Walk.) is an oligophagous species [1] migrating in spring from roses onto columbine and meadow rue [8]. These aphids occurred on the shrubs of R. canina only in May and in very small numbers. Jaśkiewicz [11, 12] reports that they can occur on R. rugosa much longer, from May till July.

Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thom.) is a cosmopolitan and polyphagous aphid which changes the host from Rosa sp. to other plants, mainly Solanaceae [3]. It preyed on the examined shrubs for a very short period and in small numbers.

Weather conditions affected the population dynamics of all aphid species. A mild winter and a warm spring were conducive to the development of aphids, which was confirmed in the studies by Cichocka [7] and Wójtowska [22]. Drought and high temperatures (over 30°C) reduced the aphid number. Cichocka [7], Jurek [15] and Kilian and Nielsen [16] report that in such conditions the fertility of females is lowered and their earlier migrations are observed, which affects their decreased number. A significant influence on the reduction of aphid population was exerted by violent stormy rainfalls, which – washing the aphids off the plants – cause their high death rate [7, 22]. On the other hand, not too heavy rainfalls are conducive to faster increase of the shoots and leaves, constituting a perfect nutrition base for aphids, which has a positive effect on the rate of development [2].

CONCLUSIONS

1. Eight aphid species were observed on the shrubs of Rosa canina L. in the urban green area of Lublin, namely Myzaphis rosarum (Kalt.), Macrosiphum rosae (L.), Metopolophium dirhodum (Walk.), Chaetosiphon tetrarhodus (Walk.), Aphis fabae Scop., Maculolachnus submacula (Walk.), Longicaudus trirhodus (Walk.), Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thom.).

2. All aphid species in greater numbers colonised the shrubs growing in the street site (A).

3. The population dynamics of aphids was affected by weather conditions, mild winter and warm spring, whereas dry periods and air temperatures of over 30°C as well as stormy rainfalls reduced the aphid number.

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