Soil potassium deficiency affects soybean phloem nitrogen and soybean aphid populations

The soybean aphid is an invasive pest in the midwest United States, with frequent population outbreaks. Previous work has shown that aphid population densities are higher on potassium-deficient soybean than on healthy soybean. The experiments reported here test the hypotheses that the potassium nutrition of the host plant affects the forms of phloem nitrogen available to soybean aphids, and subsequently, their abundance. In field surveys and an exclusion cage study when aphid populations were high, soybean plants with potassium deficiency symptoms had a higher density of soybean aphids than plants without deficiency symptoms. In clip cage experiments, this effect was caused by earlier aphid reproduction and higher numbers of aphid nymphs per mother on plants growing in lower-potassium soil. In phloem exudation samples, the percentage of asparagine, an important amino acid for aphid nutrition, increased with decreasing soil potassium, perhaps because of potassium's role in the nitrogen use of the plant. Taken together, these results show that soybean potassium deficiency can lead to higher populations of soybean aphid through a bottom-up effect. A possible mechanism for this relationship is that soybean potassium deficiency improves the nitrogen nutrition of these N-limited insects. By releasing these herbivores from N limitation, host plant potassium deficiency may allow soybean aphid populations to reach higher levels more rapidly in the field.     

A mechanistic model based analysis of cotton aphid population dynamics data

1 A 2‐year field study was conducted to generate data on seasonal abundance patterns of cotton aphids Aphis gossypii Glover and to develop a mechanistic model based on cumulative population size. The treatments consisted of three irrigation levels (Low, Medium and High) with 65%, 75% and 85% evapotranspiration replacement and three nitrogen fertility treatments (blanket‐rate‐N, variable‐rate‐N and no nitrogen). 2 A nonlinear regression equation, the analytical solution of a cumulative size mechanistic model, was fitted to each of the 27 individual data sets collected in 2003 and in 2004. The size and time of the peak, the cumulative aphid density, and the birth and death rates were estimated for each population, and each of these five variables was analyzed as a response variable in the analysis of variance. 3 For 2003 (a dry year), the Water (irrigation) main effect was found to be significant for the time of peak, the death rate and the cumulative density. The lower aphid death rate at low water levels might be due to the water stress in plants. 4 For 2004 (a year with moderate precipitation), the Nitrogen main effect was significant for both the birth and death rates. As nitrogen applications were increased, the decrease in both the aphid birth and death rates translates into a decrease in crowding and an increase in aphid survival. 5 The fact that treatment effects may be manifested through birth and death rate parameters in the new mechanistic model opens up new avenues for analyzing population size data of this kind.     

氮肥对棉田主要害虫种群密度及棉花产量的影响

通过2年的田间研究,分析了3种不同施氮水平对棉花主要害虫棉玲虫、棉蚜种群动态、棉花蕾铃脱落及棉花产量的影响。结果表明,增施氮肥的棉田棉铃虫和棉蚜数量比对照田要高,但它们之间的差异没有达到显著的水平。不同年份对棉铃虫种群密度有显著影响,但对棉蚜种群没有显著影响。蕾花期施肥可减轻棉铃虫为害造成的花蕾脱落和自然脱落,增加有效铃数和产量,但增加量没有达到显著水平。     

Effect of nitrogen fertilization on Aphis gossypii (Homoptera: Aphididae): variation in size, color, and reproduction

The effect of nitrogen fertilization on Aphis gossypii Glover color and size, fertility, and intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was studied on cotton plants. Nitrogen fertilization treatments consisted of 0, 50, 100, and 150% of the agronomic recommended level. Adult and nymph densities, as well as rm, were positively correlated with nitrogen fertilization. Aphid body length, head width, and darkness of color were recorded in populations on cotton plants fertilized with 100% nitrogen or with no nitrogen fertilization. Aphids on nitrogen-fertilized plants were significantly bigger and darker. All body size and darkness of color measurements were positively correlated with aphid fecundity. It was also found that the nutritional quality of the host plant on which the parent generation feeds has a stronger effect on the aphids than that of the quality of their own food plants. This phenomenon may dampen the effect short-term fluctuations in host plant quality have on aphid performance. Results are discussed in the context of aphid population biology, aphid-plant interactions and aphid population management.     

Effect of Bt-cotton on chrysopids, ladybird beetles and their prey: aphids and whiteflies

The effect of Bt-cotton, i.e. genetically modified cotton that contain genes expressing delta-endotoxin, on aphid, whitefly, chrysopid and coccinellid populations was determined with a two-year field study at a cotton farm near Marble Hall, South Africa. Although Bt-cotton is lepidopteran specific, non-lepidopteran arthropod populations may be indirectly influenced by the endotoxin. Abundance of aphid, whitefly, chrysopid and coccinellid populations and predator-prey interactions were used as measures to determine possible effects on the populations under investigation. The cultivation of Bt-cotton had no effect on aphid, whitefly, chrysopid or coccinellid abundance. Positive density dependent interactions occurred between aphids and coccinellids which were not influenced by Bt-cotton. A significant relationship between whitefly and coccinellid abundance, i.e. predator-prey reaction, occurred in the control and sprayed non-Bt cotton fields but was absent from the Bt-cotton fields.     

杀虫剂及不同地区寄主植物对棉蚜酯酶的影响

通过滤纸酯酶反应法比较 4种有机磷杀虫剂对北京和山东高密地区取食不同寄主植物的棉蚜β-乙酸萘酯 (β -NA)酯酶的抑制作用。结果表明高密地区不同寄主植物上的棉蚜 β -NA酯酶活力高的个体多于北京地区 ,同时辛硫磷对高密地区不同寄主植物上的棉蚜 β -NA酯酶的抑制作用亦高于北京地区 ,而久效磷和DDVP对两地区不同寄主植物上的棉蚜种群中 β-NA酯酶的抑制作用相似。     

Population dynamics of Aphis glycines (Homoptera: Aphididae) and impact of natural enemies in northern China

Field surveys of soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura, and its natural enemies, as well as natural enemy exclosure experiments, were conducted during 2003 and 2004 in soybean fields near Langfang, China. In 2003, aphid density increased six-fold during 12 d in July from 66+/-12 per 10 plants to a seasonal peak of 401+/-79 per 10 plants. Aphid density remained high for another 10 d and declined during late July and early August. In 2004, aphid density increased 29-fold during 13 d in July from 14+/-2 per 10 plants to a seasonal peak of 375+/-30 per 10 plants. Unlike 2003, aphid density remained relatively high during late July and August, peaking again at 296+/-31 per 10 plants on 24 August. In both years, aphid density remained below economic injury level and seemed to be limited by natural enemies. Exclosure of natural enemies led to increases in A. glycines density in 2003 and 2004. In 2003, peak aphid densities in large- and medium-mesh cages were three- and seven-fold higher, respectively, than densities on uncaged plants. In 2004, peak aphid densities in large- and medium-mesh cages were 2-fold and 30-fold higher, respectively, than densities on uncaged plants in one experiment. In another experiment, peak aphid densities in large-, medium-, and small-mesh cages were 8-fold, 28-fold, and 68-fold higher, respectively, than densities on uncaged plants. Both predators and parasitoids were important in limiting aphid density. We compare our results with those from North America and discuss implications for biological control.     

区域农田景观格局对麦蚜种群数量的影响

明确农田景观格局对麦田蚜虫种群的影响,是开展区域性害虫生态调控的重要理论依据之一。以区域性小麦种植区为研究对象,基于遥感影像与土地覆盖分类数据以及田间调查的蚜虫种群数据,计算景观格局指数,使用负二项分布的广义线性模型从农田景观、非作物生境景观和区域景观3个方面分析了区域农田景观格局对麦田蚜虫种群的影响。结果表明,蚜虫种群的数量与草地的平均斑块面积和最大斑块指数显著正相关,与县域的平均几何最邻近距离和面积加权平均斑块面积显著负相关,与耕地的面积加权平均斑块面积显著负相关,与耕地的斑块密度显著正相关。草地斑块面积的增大、区域景观与耕地的破碎化、区域景观的聚集会促进蚜虫种群数量的增加。使用草地的斑块面积和最大斑块指数、区域景观的平均几何最邻近距离可以预测蚜虫种群的发生量。非作物生境草地的斑块面积、耕地的破碎化、区域景观的空间分布及破碎化是影响麦田蚜虫种群发生的重要景观因素。     

A facultative mutualism between aphids and an invasive ant increases plant reproduction

1. The consequences to plants of ant–aphid mutualisms, particularly those involving invasive ants, are poorly studied. Ant–aphid mutualisms may increase or decrease plant fitness depending on the relative cost of herbivory by ant‐tended aphids versus the relative benefit of increased ant suppression of other (non‐aphid) herbivores. 2. We conducted field and greenhouse experiments in which we manipulated the presence and absence of cotton aphids (Aphis gossypii) on cotton plants to test the hypothesis that a mutualism between cotton aphids and an invasive ant, the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), benefits cotton plants by increasing fire ant suppression of caterpillars. We also manipulated caterpillar abundance to test whether the benefit of the mutualism varied with caterpillar density. 3. We found that more fire ants foraged on plants with cotton aphids than on plants without cotton aphids, which resulted in a significant reduction in caterpillar survival and caterpillar herbivory of leaves, flower buds, and bolls on plants with aphids. Consequently, cotton aphids indirectly increased cotton reproduction: plants with cotton aphids produced 16% more bolls, 25% more seeds, and 10% greater seedcotton mass than plants without aphids. The indirect benefit of cotton aphids, however, varied with caterpillar density: the number of bolls per plant at harvest was 32% greater on plants with aphids than on plants without aphids at high caterpillar density, versus just 3% greater at low caterpillar density. 4. Our results highlight the potential benefit to plants that host ant–hemipteran mutualisms and provide the first experimental evidence that the consequences to plants of an ant–aphid mutualism vary at different densities of non‐aphid herbivores.     

棉花苗期棉蚜的二项式抽样设计及其精度分析

基于棉花苗期棉蚜（Ａｐｈｉｓ ｇｏｓｓｙｐｉｉ）的２４组调查数据,利用每样方虫口不超过数阈值Ｔ（为０,１,２,…,９,１０,１５,２０,３０）头蚜虫的植株比例（ＰＴ）与种群密度（ｍ,头／株）的关系,拟合经验关系式１ｎ（ｍ）＝α＋ｂ１ｎ〔－１ｎ（ＰＴ）〕设计二项式抽样。通过对不同数阈值Ｔ的决定系数（ｒ＾２）、估计方差（Ｖａｒ（ｍ））和抽样精度（ｄ估计）等进行综合分析,结果表明该蚜虫在数阈值Ｔ为１５时     

Effects of nitrogen fertilization in cotton crop on Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) biology

The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glove, is one of the pests of cotton crop and its relation with the host seem to depend on the amount of nitrogen available to the plant. The biology of A. gossypii using different cotton nitrogen fertility regimes was studied under greenhouse conditions, in Dourados, MS. A completely randomized design with nine replications in a factorial scheme (2x4x2)+1 was used. Two nitrogen sources (sulphate of ammonium and urea), four doses of nitrogen (50, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha-1), two different times of nitrogen application and one additional treatment without nitrogen were taken as factors. The nymphal phases, the pre-reproductive, reproductive and pos-reproductive periods, longevity, the life cycle and fecundity of the cotton aphid were evaluated. The doses of nitrogen influenced the cotton aphid biology in both sources and times of application, favoring its development and fecundity.     

Decline of soybean aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) egg populations from autumn to spring on the primary host, Rhamnus cathartica

Soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Homoptera: Aphididae), is a severe pest of soybeans in North America. Soybean aphid populations cycle between a secondary summer host, where populations reproduce parthenogenetically and a primary host, where populations overwinter as eggs. In North America, the secondary host is soybean, and the primary hosts are Rhamnus cathartica L. (Rhamnaceae) and R. alnifolia L'Her. A location with abundant populations of soybean aphid on R. cathartica was identified near Guelph, Ontario, Canada, in October 2004, and eggs on trees were counted at multiple sites within that location each autumn and spring over the next 2 yr. Dynamics of naturally occurring soybean aphid populations on the primary host were assessed with respect to (1) decline of overwintering eggs from autumn to spring, (2) development of spring populations on R. cathartica, and (3) development of soybean aphid populations on soybean immediately adjacent to overwintering sites. Counts of aphid eggs declined by approximately 70% between autumn and spring sampling periods in 2004-2005. Significant differences in counts of aphid eggs relative to sampling height were observed in the canopy of R. cathartica. No edge effects were observed in the development of soybean aphid populations in soybeans adjacent to overwintering sites in this study. Very few eggs were collected at the same study location in the autumn of 2005, and no aphid eggs were collected from samples taken in the spring of 2006. Egg counts taken in the autumn of 2006 were intermediate in number relative to counts taken in the autumn of 2004 and 2005.     

免耕法对棉田生态系统能流功能的影响

比较了常规与免耕法对棉田生态系统中土壤微生物、害虫、天敌、棉株及其整个棉田生态系统能流功能的影响 .结果表明 ,免耕棉田土壤微生物量与年呼吸耗氧量均明显高于常规棉田 ,分别为常规棉田的 1 .32倍和 1 .63倍 ;免耕棉田的苗蚜与秋蚜、2代与 4代棉铃虫种群生产力下降 ,而伏蚜与 3代棉铃虫种群生产力增加 ;免耕棉田内天敌种群生产力及其捕食利用效率下降 ;免耕可提高棉田系统的光能利用率和总生产力 ,减少辅助能的投入 ,具有低耗、高效的特点 .     

Seasonal abundance of resident parasitoids and predatory flies and corresponding soybean aphid densities, with comments on classical biological control of soybean aphid in the Midwest

Seasonal abundance of resident parasitoids and predatory flies, and corresponding soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), densities were assessed in soybean fields from 2003 to 2006 at two locations in lower Michigan. Six parasitoid and nine predatory fly species were detected in 4 yr by using potted plants infested with soybean aphid placed in soybean fields. The parasitoid Lysiphlebus testaceipes Cresson (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and the predatory flies Aphidoletes aphidimyza Rondani (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), and Allograpta obliqua Say (Diptera: Syrphidae) were most numerous. Generally, L. testaceipes was more abundant late in the soybean growing season, but it also occurred during soybean vegetative growth; A. obliqua was more abundant during vegetative growth; and A. aphidimyza was common throughout the season. Soybean plants were visually inspected to estimate densities of soybean aphid, mummified aphids, and immature predatory flies. From 2003 to 2006, parasitism rates were inversely correlated with aphid density: percentage of parasitism was always very low (< or = 0.1%) at high aphid densities (> 100 aphids per plant), and higher parasitism, up to 17%, was observed at very low aphid densities (< 1 aphid per plant). Populations of immature predatory flies, particularly A. aphidimyza, generally increased in soybean fields with increasing soybean aphid populations, but aphids always outnumbered immature flies by 100-21,000-fold when flies were detected. Rearing field-collected aphid in 2006 substantiated that parasitism varied widely, with parasitism in most cases < 10%. Based on findings of low parasitism and predation, positive response to changing aphid densities by predatory flies but not parasitoids, early season abundance primarily of predatory flies, and past findings on these taxa's diversity and abundance, we discuss the potential use of exotic parasitoids and predatory flies to enhance soybean aphid biological control.     

Methyl salicylate attracts natural enemies and reduces populations of soybean aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in soybean agroecosystems

Methyl salicylate, an herbivore-induced plant volatile, has been shown to attract natural enemies and affect herbivore behavior. In this study, methyl salicylate was examined for its attractiveness to natural enemies of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), and for its direct effects on soybean aphid population growth rates. Methyl salicylate lures were deployed in plots within organic soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] fields. Sticky card traps adjacent to and 1.5 m from the lure measured the relative abundance of natural enemies, and soybean aphid populations were monitored within treated and untreated plots. In addition, exclusion cage studies were conducted to determine methyl salicylate's effect on soybean aphid population growth rates in the absence of natural enemies. Significantly greater numbers of syrphid flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) and green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) were caught on traps adjacent to the methyl salicylate lure, but no differences in abundance were found at traps 1.5 m from the lure. Furthermore, abundance of soybean aphids was significantly lower in methyl salicylate-treated plots. In exclusion cage studies, soybean aphid numbers were significantly reduced on treated soybean plants when all plants were open to natural enemies. When plants were caged, however, soybean aphid numbers and population growth rates did not differ between treated and untreated plants suggesting no effect of methyl salicylate on soybean aphid reproduction and implicating the role of natural enemies in depressing aphid populations. Although aphid populations were reduced locally around methyl salicylate lures, larger scale studies are needed to assess the technology at the whole-field scale.     

Potential of yellow sticky traps for lady beetle survey in cotton

A 2-yr study was conducted to investigate the potential of using yellow sticky traps to survey lady beetles in cotton and to quantify seasonal activity patterns. The performance of sticky traps was compared with that of a 2-cycle vacuum sampler. The most common lady beetle species captured by sticky traps and vacuum sampler in cotton were Hippodamia convergens Guerin-Meneville and Scymnus loewii Mulsant. Sticky traps captured significantly more of both species of lady beetles, had greater capture efficiency, and more effectively detected lady beetles compared with the vacuum sampler. These data indicate that the sticky trap can be a valuable tool in monitoring lady beetle populations in cotton. In the second part of this study, a year-round survey of lady beetle populations in the periphery of a cotton farm using sticky traps showed that lady beetles remained active throughout the year in the Texas Rolling Plains, but the activity was influenced by winter severity. Over a 2-yr period, H. convergens, S. loewii, Coccinella septempunctata (L.), and Olla v-nigrum (Mulsant) comprised 89.6, 8.2, 1.9, and 0.3% of the specimens, respectively. Sticky trap captures were affected by year, trap height, and cropping season. Traps placed at 0.75 m above ground captured significantly more (80%) lady beetles than traps placed at 1.50 m (20%) above ground; traps at 0.75 m above ground also detected the rarer species while the traps at 1.50 m above ground detected only the abundant species. Trap captures were higher during the noncotton season (November to April) compared with the cotton season (May to October). A significant positive correlation between cotton aphid abundance during the growing season and H. convergens abundance during the following noncotton season was also detected, indicating a significant movement of H. convergens from cotton to the periphery of the farm to seek refuge after cotton termination.     

Response of coccinellids to their aphid prey at different spatial scales

Predators that have an increasing numerical response for aggregation, attack and oviposition to increasing prey density are thought to be ideal for biological control. However density-dependent processes are infrequently detected and explanations include differences in the scales at which observations are made, behavioral differences among species, and habitat features. We examined the aggregation of four species of colonizing adult coccinellids to varying prey densities at two spatial scales in a maize system. Three of the species, Adalia bipunctata, Hippodamia tredecimpunctata, and Hippodamia convergens, responded to aphid abundance at the plant scale, and one species, Coleomegilla maculata, responded to the average aphid density at the plot (10×10 m) scale. In addition, H. convergens responded to individual plants with high aphid abundance in those plots with many plants of high aphid abundance. These results suggests that C. maculata (and possibly H. convergens) may be better able to colonize fields before aphid populations reach high levels, whereas A. bipunctata and H. tredecimpunctata may only be able to respond to high aphid abundance at the plant scale. This study suggests that spatial scale can affect predator–prey dynamics in a species-specific manner. However, the differences among coccinellid species in the community appear to be complementary, potentially contributing to greater aphid suppression.An erratum to this article can be found at     

Abundance and spatial distribution of aphids and scales select for different life histories in their ladybird beetle predators

Abstract:  Life history parameters tend to differ between aphidophagous and coccidophagous ladybird beetles. It seems that the nature of prey, in particular the abundance, number and size of the colonies and their spatial distribution, may have been selected for the evolution of the life histories in these two groups of coccinellids, leading the aphidophagous ladybird beetles to develop at a fast pace and the coccidophagous beetles at a slower pace. To study the abundance, number and size of the colonies and the spatial distribution of aphid and coccid species, 100 sampling plots regularly spaced along four parallel transects were surveyed in the summer of 2004. At each sampling plot, species abundance, and the number and size of colonies of aphid and coccid species were recorded. Iwao's patchiness regression was used to assess the spatial distribution of aphids and coccids. From this study, it was found that coccids are much rarer than aphids but formed more colonies. Whereas aphids display a stonger tendency to crowding, aphid colonies are randomly distributed in space while coccid groups are aggregated. So, it seems that the abundance and spatial distribution of prey distribution may be factors selecting for the evolution of different life histories among aphidophagous and coccidophagous ladybird beetles.     

Nitrogen and water supplies affect peach tree–green peach aphid interactions: the key role played by vegetative growth

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Relative importance of long‐term changes in climate and land‐use on the phenology and abundance of legume crop specialist and generalist aphids

Abstract Insect populations are prone to respond to global changes through shifts in phenology, distribution and abundance. However, global changes cover several factors such as climate and land-use, the relative importance of these being largely unknown. Here, we aim at disentangling the effects of climate, land-use, and geographical drivers on aphid abundance and phenology in France, at a regional scale and over the last 40 years. We used aerial data obtained from suction traps between 1978 and 2015 on five aphid species varying in their degree of specialization to legumes, along with climate, legume crop area and geographical data. Effects of environmental and geographical variables on aphid annual abundance and spring migration dates were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models. We found that within the last four decades, aphids have advanced their spring migration by a month, mostly due to the increase in temperature early in the year, and their abundance decreased by half on average, presumably in response to a combination of factors. The influence of legume crop area decreased with the degree of specialization of the aphid species to such crops. The effect of geographical variation was high even when controlling for environmental variables, suggesting that many other spatially structured processes act on aphid population characteristics. Multifactorial analyses helped to partition the effects of different global change drivers. Climate and land-use changes have strong effects on aphid populations, with important implications for future agriculture. Additionally, trait-based response variation could have major consequences at the community scale.