A temperature-dependent biological control model for the treatment of Russian wheat aphid

A temperature-dependent biological control model for the suppression of Russian wheat aphid in resistant and susceptible wheat varieties is developed. The model takes into consideration the extreme temperature-dependence inherent in the RWA intrinsic rate of increase and the development rate of the parasitoid wasp Lysiphlebus testaceipes. Simulations are run for varying levels of refuge availabiltiy and pesticide efficiency. These simulations and results suggest that the parasitoid may be a viable means of biological control in resistant wheat varieties such as Halt. Results also suggest that a complementary parasitoid-pesticide control regime may limit RWA populations to acceptable numbers in susceptible wheat varieties.