A Study on the New Overwintering Hosts (2 Species of Mosses) for Chinese Gallnut Aphids

The hard ensiform gall and hard egg-shaped gall are formed by hard ensiform gall aphid, Kaburagia rhusicola, and hard egg-shaped gall aphid, K.ovogallis respectively on the leaves of Punjab Sumac, Rhus punjab-ensis var. sinica. In order to get a high yeild of both gallnuts, a sufficient amount of overwintering hosts, some species of mosses, should be planted in the galinut woodland. In this paper, 2 new overwintering hosts, Hom-omallium connexum (Card.) Broth. (Hypnaceae) and Palamocladium macrostegium (Sull.et lesq.) Iwats. et Tak., (Brachytheciaceae) for both aphids are reported. Both of the mosses are ectohydric and epiphytic mosses on the rock or on the trunk, belonging to drought-enduring mosses. The population density of the aphids, which are parasitic on the mosses, shows that the H. connexum and P. macrostegium are both excellent overwintering hosts for the aphids. The Biological characteristics, cultivation techniques and field management for transplanting these 2 new overwintering hosts are also discussed in this paper.