Ecological Studies of Certain Aphid Species and their Associated Predators on Wheat Plants at Qadisiyah Distract, Iraq Jabbar Ahmed Shamkhi1, Sasdoon Saadoon Murad2 1Plant Protection Department, Agriculture College, University of Qadisiyah, Iraq 2Plant Protection Department, Agriculture College, Al-Muthanna University, Iraq Online published on 8 March, 2019. Abstract Background Studies were carried out at Qadisiyah district, Iraq to study certain aphid species infestation and their associated predators on wheat plants during season 2016–2017. Methods Survey and population density of piercing sucking pests and their predators on wheat plants were investigated. Results The dominant aphids were wheat, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), Sitobion avenae (Fabricius), Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch), Rhopalosiphum padi (Linnaeus) and Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko). Whereas, the prevailing associated predators were Coccinella undecimpunctata(L.), Coccinella septempunctata(L.), Chrysoperla carnea (Steph.) Metasyrphus corollae F., and a few number of true spiders. Obtained results showed that The infestation with S. graminum was much higher wheat plantations than other aphids in 2016–2017 season. Schizaphis graminum had three peaks of activity were recorded on the last week of January, March and April (455.1, 3250.7 and 907.6 individuals/100 tillers, resp.) in 2016–2017 season. Meanwhile, S. avenae had two peaks of activity were recorded on the last week of, March and April (2010.9 and 570.2 individuals/100 tillers, resp.). Also, C. septempunctata had two peaks of activity were recorded on the last week of, March and Second week of May (35.7 and 25.0 individuals/100 tillers, resp.) on the same period of study. Top Keywords Cereal aphid, Predators, wheat. Top |