Effect of flowering plants surrounding faba bean fields on the phenology and community composition of the cowpea aphid aphis craccivora predators

The current work was carried out in faba bean fields at Sidi-Salem district, Kafr El-Sheikh governorate during two growing seasons (2012/13 and 2013/14) to study the effect of flowering plants on phenology and community composition of the cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora (Koch.) predators. In the first field, replicates were marginally surrounded with a belt of flowering plants (Coriander, Corindrum saivum L.), whereas in the second one did not. Population of each predator species differed from season to season and from field to other. Although, the attracted percentage of each predator species differed from season to season, Chrysoperla carnea (Steph.) was the only species exhibited strong attractiveness in the field with flowering plant margins and contributed with the highest fate of occurrence in flowering plots of faba bean during both plantation seasons. It contributed with 29.10 and 22.60 % of the total attracted numbers. Whereas, Orius laevigatus (Fiber) contributed with the lowest fate of attractiveness (13.05 and 16.36%) to flowering plants during the first and second seasons. On the other hand, Paderus alfierii Koch and Coccinella undecimpunctata L. contributed with the highest fate of attracted predators to non-flowering plant fields.