Aphid Assemblages Associated with Urban Park Plant Communities

Area of Science:

• Urban ecology
• Entomology
• Agricultural science

Background:

• Aphids are significant agricultural pests that can also infest urban flora.
• Understanding aphid-plant interactions in urban environments is crucial for managing pest spread and protecting green spaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify plant species, communities, and habitats most attractive to aphids in urban parks.
• To compare aphid assemblages associated with different plant communities within urban park habitats.
• To test the hypothesis that aphid assemblages correlate with plant diversity and urban habitat conditions.

Main Methods:

• Floristic surveys were conducted in four urban parks in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
• Ecological indicator values were calculated for each park based on floristic lists.
• Aphid species richness, relative abundance, and dominance structure similarities were determined for associated aphid assemblages.

Main Results:

• Specific aphid-plant associations were identified, including *Hyalopterus pruni* on *Prunus* spp., *Aphis fabae* on *Philadelphus inodorus*, *Aphis sambuci* on *Sambucus nigra*, and *Periphyllus testudinaceus* on *Acer* spp.
• *Robinia pseudoacacia* plantations showed low attractiveness to aphids.
• Alluvial alder forests (tree layer) and *Cornus sanguinea* (shrub layer) were identified as the most attractive plant communities for aphids.

Conclusions:

• Aphid distribution in urban parks is influenced by specific plant communities and floral structure.
• Identifying highly attractive plant communities can inform targeted management strategies to limit aphid spread in urban green areas.
• The findings contribute to understanding urban ecosystem dynamics and pest management in cities.