Temperature effects on life history traits of the corn leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis (Homoptera: Aphididae) on corn in Taiwan

Abstract

The effects of temperature on the life history traits of Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch) were determined at 6, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35Ϯ1°C on corn leaves, Zea mays (L.). At 35°C, only a few nymphs survived and completed development, but all failed to reproduce. Total immature stages from birth to adult decreased as temperature increased from 51.7 d at 6°C to 5.2 d at 30°C, but became 8.0 d at 35°C. Overall immature development required 119.05 degree-days above 4.44°C. Adult longevity was as high as 26.7 d at 15°C, but significantly declined at 30 and 35°C. The average adult fecundity was as high as 45 offspring at 15 and 20°C, but dropped to 1.8 at 6°C and 8.6 at 30°C. In general, as temperatures increased, age-specific survivorship (l x ) declined more quickly, but age-specific fecundity (m x ) peaked earlier. At 25°C, the age-specific net maternity (v x ϭl x m x ) was the highest in the early reproductive period, resulting in the highest intrinsic rates of increase (r m ϭ0.329). At 20-30°C, the values of r m were significantly higher than those at lower temperatures. The results indicate that corn leaf aphids probably are better adapted in population growth to a wider range of high temperatures in warm regions.

Performance of corn leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch) (Homoptera: Aphididae) on selected maize hybrids under laboratory conditions

“…The r m values of the corn leaf aphid, as a good indicator of insect population growth, ranged from 0.209 to 0.299 females/female/day. The findings of Kuo et al (2006) demonstrated that the highest population build-up potential of R. maidis occurs at around 25°C, resulting in the maximum r m of this aphid (0.329, nymphs/aphid/day) at that temperature. Of the six hybrids tested in the present study, EXP1 and VRE27ϫK18 can be classified as the most suitable hosts for the corn leaf aphid.…”

“…Before using the leaves in the experiments, they were checked and cleaned of aphids and other pests if required. We replaced the excised leaves every 4-5 days with fresh corn leaves as described previously (Kuo et al, 2006;Razmjou et al, 2009). …”

“…The corn leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch) (Homoptera: Aphididae), is a serious pest of maize with Asiatic origin but it is now distributed throughout the tropics and temperate regions of the world (Hill, 1987;Blackman and Eastop, 2000;Al-Eryan and El-Tabbakh, 2004;Kuo et al, 2006). This aphid is a polyphagous pest and can cause damage to many host plants species and weeds from Gramineae and occasionally Cyperaceae and Typhaceae.…”

Impacts of Temporal and Spatial Climatic Changes on Annual Generations of Rhopalosiphum maidis and R. padi (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Egypt, Using Geographical Information System (GIS)

“…In addition, such changes in climatic conditions could profoundly affect the population dynamics and the status of insect pests of crops (Woiwod, 1997). Development of aphid is faster in warmer temperature (Kuo, et al, 2006;Park and Obrycki, 2004;Razmjou and Golizadeh, 2010;Sharma and Bhatnagar, 2002).…”

“…As result of presence of different host plants of R. maidis and R. padi not only in most localities of Egypt but also along a year, Number of annual and seasonal generation could be calculated in all locality by employing calculated values of Daily Degree units (DDU) (k) and lower threshold of development (zero of development) (t0) (Jasic, 1975) which estimated by many authors for R. padi (Abdel-Rahman, et al, 2002;Auad et al 2009;Campbell, et al 1974;Kuroli, 1984;ElHeneidy, et al, 2003;Elliott and Kieckhefer 1989) and for R.maidis (El-Ibrashy et al, 1972;ElSheikh et al, 2009;Kuo et al, 2006;Singh et al,1996), in addition upper threshold temperature could be also concerned which estimated by (Auad et al, 2009;Debarro and Maelzer, 1993) for R. padi or (El-Ibrashy et al, 1972) for R. maidis.…”