Rhopalosiphum padi Banker Plants for Aphid Management – 4-Pack

Support Beneficial Wasps with Bird Cherry-Oat Aphid Banker Plants

Rhopalosiphum padi, commonly called the bird cherry-oat aphid, provides an alternative host for beneficial parasitic wasps in a greenhouse banker plant system. These plants support Aphidius colemani and Aphidius matricariae as part of an integrated aphid management program.

The banker aphids give compatible wasps hosts for reproduction when pest aphid populations are low. The wasps provide pest control; Rhopalosiphum padi does not attack other aphids.

Establishment and Monitoring

• Introduce banker plants before or at the beginning of the crop cycle to help establish the system early.
• Use with compatible beneficial wasps as part of a preventative aphid management program.
• Inspect banker plants regularly for plant health, live banker aphids, and parasitized aphid mummies. Continue scouting the crop for pest aphids.
• Confirm crop suitability before introducing banker aphids, particularly where grasses or cereal crops are grown, because these aphids can become pests on susceptible plants.
• Follow supplier guidance for placement, maintenance, replacement, and beneficial wasp releases.

Package Details

Item number: BW-BANK
Contents: 4 banker plants in a cardboard box.

By Adam Sisson, Iowa State University, Bugwood.org, CC BY 3.0