Effects of Different Temperatures on the Development and Reproduction of Sitobion miscanthi From Six Different Regions in China

Abstract

The increase in temperature caused by global warming has greatly impacted plant growth and pest population dynamics worldwide, especially for wheat aphids. In this study, Sitobion miscanthi individuals from six geographic populations located in different wheat-producing areas in China were compared with regard to their growth, development, survival, and reproductive under different temperature conditions (17, 22 and 27°C). A population life-table analysis and a correlation analysis between geographic factors and S. miscanthi longevity or fecundity were also performed. Temperature significantly affected the nymphal development duration (NDD), the adult longevity (ALY) and the fecundity (AFY) of the aphids, however, latitude can only affect the NDD and ALY. There is an obvious interaction between temperature and latitude on the NDD, ALY, and AFY. The NDD in the three northern populations was significantly shorter than that in the southern populations. The ALY in northern populations was significantly longer than that in southern populations at different temperatures. Except for Yinchuan population was no significantly different under different degrees, the ALY of other populations was significantly shortened at 27°C. The AFY of northern populations was significantly lower than that of southern populations at 22°C, while significantly higher at 27°C. With the increase of temperature, the fecundity of northern population gradually decreased from 17 to 22°C, while the southern population suddenly decreased at 27°C. The curves of survival rate (sxj) in southern populations were significantly shorter than that of northern population. Especially the populations in Suzhou and Wuhan, in which the survival rate decreased rapidly at 27°C. Age-specific survival rate (lx) of southern populations began to decline rapidly on 15 days of age at 27°C, while those of northern populations were not significantly affected until on 20 days of age. The highest peaks of age-stage fecundity (fxj), age-specific fecundity (mx), and age-specific net maternity (lxmx) were occurred in northern populations. In addition, there was a positive correlation between latitude and longevity under the three degrees, however, only at 27°C, there was a positive correlation between latitude and fecundity. Our result proved that the higher reproductive rate of southern population requires aphids to live at the suitable ambient temperature, and aphid populations in the north have a wider ecological amplitude. The results will be helpful for predicting the potential aphid outbreaks in China’s main wheat areas under suitable conditions.

Predicting the fundamental thermal niche of ectotherms

“…It is customary for entomologists and pest management specialists to quantify temperature effects on the life‐history traits of pests and newly invaded species through laboratory experiments. In fact, the pest management and entomological literature is replete with such studies (e.g., Correa et al, 2021; Karpicka‐Ignatowska et al, 2021; Sun et al, 2022), meaning that the information required for quantifying the thermal niche of invasive species is likely to be widely available.…”

Increased ladybird predation and metabolism do not counterbalance increased field aphid population growth under experimental warming

“…We found that field experimental warming more than doubled population densities of both main aphid species, S. avenae and R. padi , in accordance with results from previous studies (Han et al., 2018, 2019; Wang et al., 2021). This may be because warming shortens the developmental period of insects, enabling them to complete more generations faster and, therefore, reach higher population densities (Sun et al., 2022; Thomson et al., 2010; Tobin et al., 2008; Wang & Ma, 2022). Aphids would be especially likely to reach high population densities faster through their continuous clonal reproductive mode under mild and warm temperatures (Gilabert et al., 2009).…”

“…To better understand the effects of increased temperature on H. axyridis predation in conditions of resource limitation, we assessed how experimental warming in the laboratory affected the functional response of H. axyridis to the two most abundant aphid species, R. padi and S. avenae . Wheat aphids were reared on wheat variety Hengguan 35 in separate cages in an insectary under 19°C, 70 ± 5% RH, and a 16L:8D photoperiod, which are the optimal conditions for aphid rearing in the insectary (Park et al., 2017; Sun et al., 2022; Wang et al., 2021). Individuals of H. axyridis were provided by the Institute of Plant Protection, Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences and reared in the laboratory on a M. japonica aphid diet on broad bean, under 25°C, 70 ± 5% RH, and a 16L:8D photoperiod, which are the optimal conditions for H. axyridis rearing in the insectary (Wang et al., 2022).…”

Temperature and Host Plant Impacts on the Development of Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Linear and Nonlinear Modeling

“…These variations may be due to the different host plants (especially cultivars) offered to the larvae as well as the available nutrient content and nutritional quality of the host plants [ 6 , 34 , 89 ]. The differences in chemical compounds, along with factors other than the temperature, such as insect genetic makeup, geographic origin, and environmental conditions (relative humidity and photoperiod) [ 90 , 91 ], emphasized that information regarding the nutritional value of the host plants offered is significant in order to develop viable and applicable management strategies against polyphagous insects, because the economic standing of polyphagous insects is mediated by the nutritional quality and by the relative abundance of the host plants. In this study, the S. litura eggs could not hatch or complete their development at the higher extreme temperature (40 °C) on either the host plants or the artificial diet.…”