Oviposition by coccinellids during the growing season was positively correlated with the general population density of green peach aphids on tobacco plants during the growing season. The significantly lower oviposition on Tobacco Introduction (TI) 1298 was probably the result of low aphid populations on this aphid-resistant tobacco. Larger numbers of eggs were laid on TI 1068 (which is late maturing and has large amounts of sticky exudates) than on Burley 21. Kentucky 14, or LA Burley 21, especially late in the season. Although survival of coccinellid larvae from 1st instar to pupation was lower on TI 1068 than on either LA Burley 21 or Burley 21, the differences were not significant. We postulate that this low survival on TI 1068 results from the inhibition of movement on this plant.

(Full article published with kind permission from "Tobacco International")