Winter Host Plant Specialization in a Host-Alternating Aphid |
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Authors: | Jonas P Sandström Jan Pettersson |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Uppsala, Norbyvägen 18 C, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden;(2) Department of Entomology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden |
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Abstract: | The host alternating aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.), feeds in summer on several different species of grasses but is monophagous on its winter host, Prunus padus L. The monophagy on P. padus could be a result of the restricted host range of the several different generations colonizing, or feeding, on this host during autumn–winter–spring. This study shows that the winter host plant specificity of R. padi is controlled mainly by the preference of the females remigrating (gynoparae) to the winter host, P. padus, in autumn. The other generations living on the winter host, i.e., sexual females, males, and spring generations, all accept a broader range of winter hosts. One alternative host plant, Prunus spinosa L., could be utilized by all generations associated with the winter host, except for the females remigrating at autumn. |
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Keywords: | aphids host alternation host plant specialization Rhopalosiphum padi Prunus spinosa Prunus padus |
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