Attracting beneficial insects to combat green aphids, vectors of beet yellows disease

This article presents the results of the BAP project conducted as part of the PNRI Betteraves programme, which aims to develop alternative solutions to neonicotinoids in the fight against the green aphid Myzus persicae. These results present the evaluation of a microencapsulated formulation of E-?-farnesene to attract predatory and beneficial insects. Olfactometry tests demonstrated that the formulation concentrated at 10% active substance has a significant attractant effect on ladybirds. Three field trials on beetroot then revealed that combining paraffin oil with this formulation reduces aphid populations more effectively than oil alone, limiting yellowing to the same level as treatment with flonicamide, the active substance in registered insecticide. This approach offers a sustainable alternative to insecticides.