(1) Habitat management can enhance beneficial arthropod populations and provide ecosystem services such as biological control. However, the implementation of ecological infrastructures inside orchards has a number of practical limitations. Therefore, planting/growing insectary plants in the margins of orchards should be considered as an alternative approach. (2) Here, we assessed the efficacy of a flower margin composed by four insectary plant species (Achillea millefolium, Lobularia maritima, Moricandia arvensis and Sinapis alba), which was placed on an edge of four Mediterranean apple orchards to attract natural enemies of two apple tree aphids (Dysaphis plantaginea and Eriosoma lanigerum). We also characterized the natural enemies present in the aphid colonies. (3) Our results show that the implementation of a flower margin at the edge of apple orchards attracts predators (Syrphidae, Thysanoptera, Araneae, Heteroptera, Coleoptera) and parasitoids. Parasitoids are the main natural enemies present in aphid colonies in our area. (4) The implementation of the flower margins successfully recruited natural enemy populations, and the presence of parasitoids in the surroundings of the orchards increased the parasitism of D. plantaginea colonies.

Lipolexis is a small genus in the subfamily Aphidiinae represented by one species in Europe (Lipolexis gracilis Förster) and by four in Asia (Lipolexis wuyiensis Chen, L. oregmae Gahan, L. myzakkaiae Pramanik and Raychaudhuri and L. pseudoscutellaris Pramanik and Raychaudhuri). Although L. oregmae is employed in biological control programs against pest aphids, the last morphological study on the genus was completed over 50 years ago. This study employs an integrative approach (morphology and molecular analysis (COI barcode region)), to examine Lipolexis specimens that were sampled worldwide, including specimens from BOLD database. These results establish that two currently recognized species of Lipolexis (L. gracilis, L. oregmae) are actually a species complex and also reveal phylogenetic relationships within the genus. Six new species are described and a global key for the identification of Lipolexis species is provided.

Aphids are a serious pest for peach crops. They have traditionally been managed with insecticides, but there is increasing concern about the risk that insecticides pose to both humans and the environment. As a first step to use biological control in aphid management, we conducted a 3-year field survey in northeastern Spain to determine which parasitoids and hyperparasitoids were most prevalent on two aphids, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and Hyalopterus spp. Koch, the most harmful to peach trees. We collected 11 parasitoid species from M. persicae, with Aphidius matricariae (Haliday) being the most abundant. Two parasitoid species were also collected from Hyalopterus spp., Aphidius transcaspicus Telenga and Praon volucre (Haliday). Hyperparasitoid species overlapped between these aphids but their relative abundances differed. We also discuss the possible impacts of hyperparasitoids on parasitoid populations. Our results suggest that it would be feasible to implement biocontrol methods for aphids in integrated pest management programmes in peach orchards. There are a number of primary parasitoid species associated with these aphids, and the nearby crops and wild vegetation in the vicinity and within the orchards may provide a suitable habitat for them. Additionally, some of them are commercially available and might be usable in augmentative releases.

Rhagoletis zoqui Bush es una especie endémica de la región central de México, que en el estado de Puebla se alimenta del “Nogal de Castilla” (Juglans regia L.) ocasionando daños en los frutos y pérdidas económicas a escala regional. Durante dos ciclos de fructificación del hospedero (2011 y 2012) se realizaron muestreos semanales para evaluar las poblaciones de adultos de R. zoqui, utilizando nueve trampas Multilure cebadas con proteína hidrolizada. En total se recolectaron 3,657 especímenes, de los cuales el 23.5% correspondieron al ciclo 2011, con los mayores índices mosca/trampa/día registrados a finales de Junio; mientras que en el ciclo 2012 se capturó el 76.5% de los especímenes totales, con su mayor incidencia a principios de Julio. La comparación entre los índices mosca/trampa/día de ambos ciclos, indicó que las capturas del ciclo de fructificación 2012 fueron significativamente mayores que en el ciclo anterior. Los análisis de correlación entre los índices de captura semanal y los factores climáticos para el ciclo 2011, mostraron una relación significativa del incremento poblacional con la precipitación pluvial, en cambio, el incremento de la temperatura media semanal fue correlacionado con la disminución de los índices de captura. Rhagoletis zoqui Bush is endemic to central Mexico, and its host in the state of Puebla is the “Nogal de Castilla” (Juglans regia L.). This pest damages fruits which results in regional economic losses. During two fruiting cycles of the host (2011 and 2012), weekly surveys assessed adult populations of R. zoqui using nine Multilure traps baited with hydrolyzed protein. A total of 3,657 specimens was captured; of the total, 23.5% were captured in 2011, with the greatest fly/trap/day levels in late June, while 76.5% of specimens were captured during 2012, with most in early July. Comparisons between fly/trap/day indexes of both cycles showed that captures during the 2012 fruiting cycle were significantly greater than in the former. Correlation analysis of weekly catches in 2011 and climate parameters showed a significant relationship between increase in abundance and rainfall rates. However, increase in average temperature was correlated with decreasing rates of capture.