Observations on the morphs of Macrosiphum avenae and Metopolophium dirhodum on cereals during the summer and autumn

From June to early August 1970, populations of Macrosiphum avenae and Metopolophium dirhodum on marked tillers of field barley were compared with the numbers of alatae trapped at crop height and at 12.2 m. There were always more M. dirhodum than M. avenae on the tillers. Only apterae were produced until mid-June when both alatae and apterae occurred; after mid-July only alate M. avenae were found. Until mid-June most of the flying alatae were caught at 12.2 m as they migrated from spring hosts to cereals. Thereafter, more alate M. avenae were trapped at 12.2 m than at crop level, whereas numbers of alate M. dirhodum were usually comparable at both heights. Although crop and flying populations occasionally showed temporal similarities, insufficient is known about their field distribution and the factors affecting their alate production and flight activity to interpret this relationship. In the autumn, two consecutive reproductive phases of M. dirhodum occurred on winter wheat grown in pots outdoors. Initially, apterous virginoparae and alatae, probably sexuparae, were produced, whereas only alate males appeared during the second phase. In contrast, M. avenae deposited mainly apterous virginoparae although some oviparae developed in October to lay scattered, probably infertile eggs on the tillers.     

Host plant age and population development of a cereal aphid, Metopolophium dirhodum (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The sudden decline following the peak in population abundance of aphids on crops of small grain cereals is attributed to the joint effect of natural enemies and plant senescence. To distinguish between these causes, a four year experiment was established in which the numbers of Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker) infesting spring wheat plots sown from April to June at c. 14 day intervals were determined. Aphid abundance in replicates sown at successive dates peaked within a period of 5-9 days (106-171 day degrees above a base temperature of 0 degrees C) although their sowing dates varied by 62-97 days (727-1106 day degrees). At the time of the aphid population peaks, plants in the different sowings differed in age (11-99 days), developmental stage (stage 15-65 on the Zadoks scale), leaf nitrogen content and shoot mass. Maximum abundance of M. dirhodum decreased with sowing date because the time available for its population increase was shorter on late than early sowings. The abundance of M. dirhodum on spring wheat was similar to its abundance on winter wheat. After reaching peak abundance, aphids declined in numbers within 3-7 days. The effect of host plant ageing on the M. dirhodumdecline thus appeared small. Natural enemies (largely mycoses), and timing of alata production may have contributed to the aphid decline.     

The effect of cereal growth stages on the reproductive activity of Sitobion avenue and Metopolophium dirhodum

Apterous Sitobion avenae on oats were found to have a higher reproductive rate on the ears (5–95 nymphs per day) than on young leaves (3–78 nymphs per day), mature leaves (2–17 nymphs per day) or senescent leaves (2–08 nymphs per day). At each growth stage of the the host plant large aphids gave birth to more young than small aphids, but aphids of the same weight on different growth stages of the host plant had different reproductive rates. On wheat in the field S. avenae gave birth to more young on the ears but less on the leaves than Metopolophium dirhodum on the leaves.
The suitability of ears to S. avenae changed through the flowering and ripening stages. During the latter part of the milky-ripe stage the reproductive rate of S. avenae declined and its mortality increased. The consequences of the variations in reproduction and mortality are discussed in relation to the life history and population dynamics of S. avenae and the assessment of cereal varieties for aphid resistance.     

The effect of plant phenology on the induction of alatae and the development of populations of Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker), the rose-grain aphid, on winter wheat

In field experiments apterous Metopolophium dirhodum produced significantly more alatae when reared on mature plants (milky ripe stage) than on young plants. Nymphal and adult survival and relative growth rate were little affected by the developmental stage of the host plant. Relative growth rate and fecundity were strongly related to temperature. Laboratory experiments confirmed that the developmental stage of wheat had no significant effect on survival or relative growth rate of the aphids. However, laboratory grown plants did not produce the levels of alate production seen in field crops and in the field experiments. It is suggested that in investigations into the effects of the host plant on cereal aphids field grown plants should be used whenever possible. Alate production is proposed as the major plant induced factor affecting the development of M. dirhodum populations on wheat in the field. Alatae developed on mature plants even when the number of aphids was very low.     

Observation on the initial inoculum source and dissemination of Entomophthorales-caused epizootics in populations of cereal aphids

A total number of 1092 migratory alates were trapped from air in wheat grown area of Yuanyang County, Henan Province from early April through May 2002 in order to confirm the source and dissemination of entomophthoralean inocula to cause epizootics of cereal aphids. Those included 415 Sitobion avenae, 642 Rhopalosiphum padi, 22 Metopolophium dirhodum, and 13 Schizaphis graminum. The trapped alates were daily collected and individually reared for 7 days on wheat plants in laboratory. Of those 341 alates died of fungal infection, taking 31.2% in the trapped alates. These included 224 S. avenae, 106 R. padi, 8 M. dirhodum, and 3 S. graminum. Deaths of all infected alates occurred during the first 5 days and 78.9% of the deaths occurred within the first 3 days. Individual examination under microscope proved that all deaths were attributed to entomophthoralean fungi. Of those Pandora neoaphidis accounted for 84.6%, Conidiobolus obscurus for 9.9%, and Entomophthora planchoniana for 5.5%. Four alate deaths died of cross infection of P. neoaphidis and C. conidiobolus. Based on the high infection rate of the migratory alates trapped from air and the field occurrence of epizootics in populations of cereal aphids during the trapping period, Entomophthorales-caused epizootics were likely disseminated by infected alates through their flight and colonization. This makes it reasonable to interpret worldwide distribution of aphid epizootics, particularly caused by P. neoaphidis that has no resting spores discovered.     

Observation on the initial inoculum source and dissemination of Entomophthorales-caused epizootics in populations of cereal aphids

A total number of 1092 migratory alates were trapped from air in wheat grown area of Yuanyang County, Henan Province from early April through May 2002 in order to confirm the source and dissemination of entomophthoralean inocula to cause epizootics of cereal aphids. Those included 415 Sitobion avenae, 642 Rhopalosiphum padi, 22 Metopolophium dirhodum, and 13 Schizaphis graminum. The trapped alates were daily collected and individually reared for 7 days on wheat plants in laboratory. Of those 341 alates died of fungal infection, taking 31.2% in the trapped alates. These included 224 S. avenae, 106 R. padi, 8 M. dirhodum, and 3 S. graminum. Deaths of all infected alates occurred during the first 5 days and 78.9% of the deaths occurred within the first 3 days. Individual examination under microscope proved that all deaths were attributed to entomophthoralean fungi. Of those Pandora neoaphidis accounted for 84.6%, Conidiobolus obscurus for 9.9%, and Entomophthora planchoniana for 5.5%. Four alate deaths die     

The reactions of two cereal aphid parasitoids, Aphidius uzbekistanicus and A. ervi to host aphids and their food-plants

ABSTRACT. A Y-tube olfactometer was used to test the reactions of the hymenopteran cereal aphid parasitoids Aphidius uzbekistanicus Luzhetski and A. ervi Haliday to odours from aphids and their host plants. Only females responded to aphids but both sexes responded to plant odours. A. uzbekistanicus responded to the cereal aphids Sitobion avenae (F.) and Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker) whilst A. ervi , which has a broad host range, responded to M. dirhodum and the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. Female A. uzbekistanicus responded to wheat leaves only but males responded to a range of plant material. Both male and female A. ervi responded to wheat and bean leaves. The failure of A. ervi to respond to either nettle aphids, Microlophium carnosum (Bukt.), or nettle leaves, despite its frequent parasitization of this aphid in the field, suggests the existence of more than one race of the parasitoid and casts doubts on the usefulness of alternative hosts as reservoirs for A. ervi in integrated control programmes. Males of both species responded to their respective females suggesting the presence of a sex specific attractant.     

The overwintering and abundance of cereal aphids

The longevity of Sitobion avenae varied inversely with temperature from 25 to over 100 days when reared outdoors on barley under lantern jars, being longest between December and April–May. This was due mainly to changes in the length of the pre- and post-reproductive periods rather than the length of the period of reproduction. Fecundity varied directly with temperature, from eight to sixty-seven nymphs per female. When reared on winter wheat and sheltered from wind, rain and snow, S. avenae survived best, Metopolophium dirhodum survived less well and Rhopalosiphum padi worst; when exposed in the open none of the three species survived. Close relationships were not demonstrable between the numbers of alate M. dirhodum, S. avenae and Rhopalosiphum spp. trapped in any year, between the abundance of these aphids and weather conditions between January and April, or between the numbers of these alatae and the size of crop infestations. This was probably because insufficient information was available about their biology, both inside and outside the crop.     

Silencing of a lipase maturation factor 2‐like gene by wheat‐mediated RNAi reduces the survivability and reproductive capacity of the grain aphid,Sitobion avenae

Lipase maturation factor (LMF) family proteins are required for the maturation and transport of active lipoprotein lipases. However, the specific roles of LMF2 remain unknown. In this study, a grain aphid lmf2‐like gene fragment was cloned and was highly similar in sequence to a homologous gene in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. An RNAi vector was constructed with this fragment and used for wheat transformation. The expression of the lmf2‐like gene in aphid, as well as the growth and reproduction of the aphids, was analyzed after feeding on the transgenic wheat. There were no significant differences in the expression of the lmf2‐like gene over development. The expression of the lmf2‐like gene was significantly reduced by 27.6% on the fifth day, and 57.6% on the 10th day after feeding. The total number of aphids produced on the transgenic plants was less than the number produced on control plants, and the difference became significant or after 2 weeks. The molting numbers were also reduced in the aphids reared on the transgenic plants. Our findings indicate that lmf2‐like genes may have potential as a target gene for the control of grain aphids and show that feeding aphids with wheat expressing lmf2‐like RNAi resulted in significant reductions in survival and reproduction.     

Prey selection and foraging behaviour by Pterostichus cupreus L. (Col., Carabidae) under laboratory conditions

Abstract: Several authors have indicated that carabid beetles offer potential as predators of insect pests on arable crops, but this potential is reduced by their limited ability to climb the crop plants. In the current investigation an initial laboratory experiment indicated that seven species of carabid beetles commonly found in arable fields in the UK would feed on both aphid and collembolan prey. Pterostichus cupreus L. and Bembidion guttula Fabr. were found to accept both live and dead aphids and collembolans. In further laboratory investigations P. cupreus exhibited greater consumption of the cereal aphid Metopolophium dirhodum Walker than the alternative prey species Heteromurus nitidus , Templeton (Collembola, Entomobryidae) and there was some indication of preference for the aphid prey as these were often consumed first. Significantly more handling time was required for the consumption of M. dirhodum compared to H. nitidus. The treatments where P. cupreus was given a diet of aphids or collembolans prior to the prey choice experiment, did not appear to influence the number or type of prey items consumed.
Using a four-arm olfactometer P. cupreus reacted positively to the volatiles from collembolans, but gave a less clear response to those from the cereal aphid M. dirhodum . In an artificial field arena P. cupreus readily climbed barley plants in search of M. dirhodum , perhaps as a response to volatile emissions, but this behaviour changed when H. nitidus were introduced onto the substrate of the arena. Although the current results indicated that P. cupreus has potential for the control of cereal aphids, the presence of alternative prey appeared to reduce this potential and suggest that the carabid is an opportunistic feeder.     

Role of an indole alkaloid in the resistance of barley seedlings to aphids

The content of the simple indole alkaloid gramine in barley leaves decreased with age. Conversely, susceptibility to aphids increased in older plants. Population growth rate of the greenbug Schizaphis graminum correlated with gramine content of leaves of several barley cultivars. Gramine decreased rate of feeding, survival and reproductive index of aphids feeding on artificial diets at concentrations similar to those found in plant leaves. Thus, it is suggested that gramine plays a role in the resistance of barley seedlings to S. graminum. Benzyl alcohol, a previously reported insect resistance factor from barley, was absent from all barley cultivars analysed.     

An Early Indicator of Resistance in Barley to Russian Wheat Aphid

During early stages of infestation by Russian wheat aphids (Diuraphis noxia [Mordvilko]; RWAs), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) leaf cells collapsed and showed autofluorescence in the mesophyll and bundle sheath adjacent to the RWA stylet sheath. The response was visually similar to the hypersensitive cell death response, typical of resistance to microbial pathogens. Resistant barley produced significantly more collapsed, autofluorescent cells (CAC) than did susceptible barley. RWA stylet entry sites and sheath paths also fluoresced, making them easy to observe in whole leaf sections. The number of CAC increased with the number of RWAs and with the number of days of feeding in resistant plants. The CAC could be observed 1 d following infestation, making this the most rapid plant response toward the RWAs known to date. The response may be useful in screening for resistant plants and may provide insight into resistance mechanisms in barley.     

The role of cereal growth stages and crowding in the induction of alatae in Sitobion avenae and its consequences for population growth

Abstract. 1. Alatiform nymphs of Sitobion avenae were first recorded on wheat in 1977 and 1978 when there were 0.6 aphids per tiller and reached a maximum proportion of 0.9 of the population despite a seventeen-fold difference in aphid density between years.
2. At the same aphid density per tiller there was a higher proportion of alatiform nymphs on the tillers at an advanced than at an earlier stage of plant growth.
3. Both pre- and post-natal crowding, and late stages of plant growth, were important in inducing the development of alatae in the laboratory.
4. Changes in the quality of the host plant through its previously reported effect on reproductive and survival rates, and its effect on alate induction and emigration was important in shaping the population dynamics of S.avenae on cereals.     

Tolerance of antibiotic and susceptible cereal seedlings to the aphids Metopolophium dirhodum and Rhopalosiphum padi

Some cereal seedlings exhibit antibiotic and antixenotic resistance to the aphids Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker) and Rhopalosiphum padi (L.), because the seedlings contain hydroxamic acids or gramine. The association between tolerance to aphids and aphid antibiosis was investigated for three cereals, Dollarbird wheat Vulcan wheat and Yagan barley. The dry biomass gained by the aphids and the simultaneous reduction in the biomass of the plants (biomass conversion ratio) quantified tolerance. Biomass production and the density dependence of biomass production by the aphids quantified antibiosis more effectively than fecundity. Vulcan wheat, which has more hydroxamic acid than Dollarbird wheat showed the highest level of antibiosis, and the barley was not antibiotic for either aphid. The biomass conversion ratio was a constant; the biomass of an infested plant was reduced by 3 mg for each mg of aphid biomass gained, regardless of aphid species, plant cultivar, or aphid density. The three plants showed no differential tolerance to the aphids, and therefore tolerance is not associated with antibiosis in this case.     

小麦体内生化物质在抗蚜中的作用

综述了小麦体内生化物质的抗蚜作用 ,主要包括不同抗性品种对麦蚜的影响、小麦体内氨基酸、糖类、酚类物质、生物碱和非蛋白氨基酸等与抗蚜性的关系 ,以及蚜虫对小麦体内抗虫生化物质的诱导作用 ,并提出了深入研究小麦生化物质与抗蚜性关系的前景和意义。     

Aphelinus albipodus(Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) andDiaeretiella rapae(Hymenoptera: Braconidae) Parasitism onDiuraphis noxia(Homoptera: Aphididae) Infesting Barley Plants Differing in Plant Resistance to Aphids

Russian wheat aphid,Diuraphis noxia(Mordvilko), as a pest of small grains, has prompted research into biological control and host plant resistance. In the presence of Russian wheat aphid, leaves of a susceptible barley (Morex) are curled and chlorotic and sustain large densities of this aphid, while leaves of a resistant barley (STARS-9301B) remain flat and green and sustain fewer aphids. Might parasitism of Russian wheat aphid byAphelinus albipodusHayat & Fatima andDiaeretiella rapaeMcIntosh be affected differently by these plant types? When presented the plants separately and based on parasitism rate relative to aphid density, the largerD. rapaewas more effective in parasitizing relatively high densities of aphids within curled leaves of Morex than relatively low densities of aphids on uncurled leaves of STARS-9301B. Parasitism byA. albipodusdid not significantly differ among the plants. When given a choice of plants, approximately equal rates of parasitism occurred on the two plant lines for both parasitoid species, and parasitism byD. rapaewas greater thanA. albipodus.These data indicate that using parasitoid size as an indicator of success in a physically restricted environment may be misleading, when considered in a plant environment responsive in several manners to aphids (chlorosis, curling, and ability to sustain Russian wheat aphid). We expect that use of resistant barley will result in decreased parasitoid abundance as aphid densities decrease. However, parasitism rates are expected to be approximately equal on resistant and susceptible barley. In this system, plant resistance and biocontrol are compatible management strategies.     

Field assessments of resistance to the aphids Sitobion avenae and Metopolophium dirhodum in old and modern spring-sown wheats

Three ancient varieties of wheat and two modern spring-sown cultivars were investigated in the field to assess their resistance to the cereal aphids Sitobion avenae and Metopolophium dirhodum; the monitoring of natural populations and detailed observations using clip-cages were both undertaken. The ancient variety Einkorn showed both antixenotic and antibiotic resistance to S. avenae, and antibiotic resistance to M. dirhodum. The resistance to S. avenae was greater than that to M. dirhodum. The value of Einkorn as a component of a resistance-breeding programme is discussed with reference to its agronomic and genetic characteristics and with reference to the pest status of cereal aphids.     

The distribution of aphids in response to variation among individual host plants: Uroleucon rudbeckiae (Homoptera: Aphididae) andRudbeckia laciniata (Asteraceae)

Abstract. 1. An investigation was conducted to determine the effects of variation among individual plants of Rudbeckia laciniata L. on the distribution and abundance of the aphid Uroleucon rudbeckiae (Fitch).
2. Wild plants were examined repeatedly for up to 2¹/₂ years to obtain information about plant growth and flowering, and about aphid densities on individual plants.
3. Aphid densities on individual plants were positively associated with several measures of plant vigour, including height, growth since previous year, and occurrence of flowers.
4. The colonization of plants by alate aphids was more highly correlated with plant height than with plant exposure. Aphid densities on individual plants were more strongly associated with plant height than with number of colonists.
5. In all years there were many hosts which were never colonized by aphids. Some of these plants produced shoots but did not flower. Experimental infestation of these plants showed that they were unsuitable for aphid growth and reproduction. Some plants which did flower and which escaped aphid infestation were nevertheless suitable hosts. Previously unsuitable host individuals were able to support aphids when grown under glass-house conditions.     

Characteristics of resistance to the grain aphid Sitobion avenue in winter wheat

Five stocks of winter wheat were resistant to S. avenae in glasshouse screening tests, where resistance was more evident in older than younger plants but different types of resistance were not separated. Antibiosis was measured from the growth and reproduction of caged individual aphids and antixenosis from the settling of adult aphids on detached leaf portions. Cvs Bounty, Rapier and Virtue were resistant due to antibiosis, whilst cv. Kador and line A4501-4E showed antixenosis. These and other differences indicated that these five wheat stocks probably include at least four distinct sources of resistance to S. avenae. The existence of different types of resistance could account for variability in the results of screening tests.     

Resistance of rape (Brassica napus) to attack by the cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.)

Resistance to Brevicoryne brassicae L. attacks in a New Zealand variety of forage rape resulted from a combination of host non–preference and antibiosis. Using clonal plant material obtained from cuttings, only half the numbers of immigrant alate cabbage aphids that settled to reproduce on the susceptible rape were to be found on the resistant rape. The reproduction rate of these alates was about 12 % slower on the resistant plants than on the susceptibles and the young took about 13% longer to mature. Antibiosis then shortened the reproductive life of the apterae by one-third, reduced their fecundity by nearly 50 % and caused 40% mortality in their progeny. The over-all effect of this was considerable and under conditions specified in the text could result in the population on the resistant plants being about one-eighth that on the susceptible plants in under 1 month. The resistant plants lost their resistance on flowering and became normally susceptible to cabbage aphid attack. With maturity, however, the B. brassicae-resistant plants became slightly resistant to Myzus persicae.