ABSTRACT
Cereal aphids host plants

René Robinson Vargas M.1
 

Secondary host plants of the cereal aphids (Metopolophium dirhodum (Walk.); Sitobion avenae (Fabr.); Schizaphis graminum (Rond.), and Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) have been sampled from 1978, in order to study their Iife-cycle in the V Region's ecosystems.
The four cereal aphid species showed some preference for Gramineae wild grasses, and they were found to be anholocyclic. R. padi was recorded on Carex sp. (Cyperaceae) and Juncus bufonius (Juncaceae); M. dirhodum was detected on Sisyrinchium sp. (Iridaceae).
From March through December, the four cereal aphid species were recorded on many secondary hosts. These should be cons.idered as a source of aphids and virus vectors infestations to cereal crops, in an integrated pest management programme.

Keywords:
1 lng. Agr., Subestación Experimental La Cruz (INIA), Casilla 3, La Cruz, Chile