Evaluation and Diversity of Aphids on Two Tomato Crops in Tizi-Ouzou (North Algeria), and First Report of Semiaphis Dauci (Fabricius, 1775) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Algeria

Abstract

Aphids are among the phytophagous insects causing the greatest economic losses. This study was carried out to evaluate the diversity and abundance of aphids in two tomato crops grown in an open field in two localities situated at Tizi-Ouzou (North Algeria). The aphid’s inventory was carried out using yellow traps. 926 winged aphids were trapped, representing 55 species. The aphid fauna recorded was divided into 4 subfamilies, 6 tribes and 31 genera. The aphid’s diversity trapped in Zahra variety field was higher with 41 species, compared to 29 species in Zin 45 variety field, with one species recorded for the first time in Algeria, namely Semiaphis dauci (Fabricius, 1775). The density and diversity of aphids differed from one field to another depending on climatic factors and the availability of host plants. Direct observations on plants allowed the identification of three aphid species, namely Aphis fabae Scopoli, 1763 Aphis gossypii Glover, 1877 and Myzus persicae (Sulzer, 1776).