Abstract Early in the growing season when pest densities are low, crop environments are often unattractive to natural enemies. A combination of flowering plants providing food and alternate prey and herbivore induced plant volatiles (HIPV) may attract and retain natural enemies in crops. Melanaphis sacchari Zehntner (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a new pest of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), causes significant yield loss if left unmanaged. In a three-year field study, we tested the extent to which buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) border strips and lures containing the HIPV methyl salicylate attracted natural enemies prior to and during M. sacchari establishment in sweet sorghum plots. Natural enemies were surveyed weekly within the sweet sorghum (visual counts and yellow sticky cards) and in buckwheat border strips outside the plots (vacuum sampling). M. sacchari visual counts and natural enemy surveys were performed until harvest. Within buckwheat border strips, natural enemies were more abundant relative to non-buckwheat border strips. However, the increase in buckwheat borders did not increase natural enemies within sweet sorghum plots. In addition, the most abundant natural enemies within sweet sorghum (Coccinellidae) were uncommon in buckwheat strips. Methyl salicylate did not impact natural enemies in sweet sorghum border strips. M. sacchari populations and sweet sorghum yields were not affected by treatments. Other methods of increasing natural enemies will need to be explored to enhance early season management of M. sacchari in sweet sorghum fields.

中文翻译：

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荞麦和水杨酸甲酯诱剂对甜高粱中蜜饯（半翅目：蚜科）早期管理的天敌丰度的影响

摘要 在害虫密度较低的生长季节早期，作物环境通常对天敌没有吸引力。提供食物的开花植物与替代猎物和食草动物诱导的植物挥发物 (HIPV) 的组合可能会吸引和保留作物中的天敌。Melanaphis sacchari Zehntner（半翅目：蚜科）是一种新的甜高粱害虫（Sorghum bicolor L.），如果不加以管理会导致显着的产量损失。在一项为期三年的实地研究中，我们测试了荞麦 (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) 边界条和含有 HIPV 水杨酸甲酯的诱饵在甜高粱地块中建立 M. sacchari 之前和期间吸引天敌的程度。每周在甜高粱内（目测计数和黄色粘性卡片）和地块外的荞麦边界带（真空采样）中调查天敌。M. sacchari 目测计数和天敌调查一直进行到收获。在荞麦边界带内，天敌相对于非荞麦边界带更为丰富。然而，荞麦边界的增加并没有增加甜高粱地块内的天敌。此外，甜高粱（瓢虫科）中最丰富的天敌在荞麦条中并不常见。水杨酸甲酯对甜高粱边缘地带的天敌没有影响。M. sacchari 种群和甜高粱产量不受处理的影响。需要探索增加天敌的其他方法，以加强 M. 的早期管理。