烟蚜茧蜂随寄主有翅桃蚜迁飞而被携带扩散的模拟实验

蚜虫寄生蜂的广泛分布可能与有翅蚜的迁飞有关。为了证明这一假说, 本研究利用微小昆虫飞行磨系统, 分数十批(≤16头/批)对被烟蚜茧蜂Aphidius gifuensis Ashmead单头寄生后的有翅桃蚜Myzus persicae (Sulzer)进行模拟飞行并系统观察了飞行后有翅桃蚜的单头定殖情况。对实验观察数据按飞行时间和飞行距离进行归类, 采用单因素方差分析方法分析飞行时间和飞行距离对有翅桃蚜定殖后的存活和生殖力、烟蚜茧蜂发育等变量的影响; 采用多项式回归分析对所有变量和归类的数据进行统计和分析。结果表明: 成功飞行并定殖的有翅桃蚜有378头, 其中239头有翅桃蚜定殖后形成僵蚜。形成僵蚜的有翅桃蚜在飞行实验时平均飞行时间和飞行距离分别为2.63 h和2.16 km, 定殖后平均存活了6.11 d, 定殖第6天和第14天平均产若蚜累计数量分别为8.5头和162头。形成僵蚜和未形成僵蚜的有翅蚜的模拟飞行数据和定殖观察数据无显著差异。形成僵蚜的239头有翅桃蚜中, 最终成功育出烟蚜茧蜂205头, 僵蚜出蜂率为85.8%。雌雄性比为1∶5.2。结论认为, 专性寄生蚜虫的烟蚜茧蜂可以利用有翅蚜的迁飞而被携带扩散传播, 有翅蚜迁飞在蚜虫寄生蜂扩散中具有重要作用。     

Ant attendance reduces flight muscle and wing size in the aphid Tuberculatus quercicola

In otherwise mutualistic relationships between aphids and ants, attendance by ants often has negative impacts on aphids. For example, in a previous study using traps in the field, the aphid Tuberculatus quercicola, which exhibits mutualistic interactions with ants, showed extremely low dispersal rates, despite having long wings. This study investigates whether components of the flight apparatus (mesonotum length, flight muscle and wings) differ between aphids attended by ants and not attended by ants. Randomized block analysis of variance, using body length as a covariate, showed that ant attendance has a negative influence on aphid flight apparatus. This result indicates that aphids produce honeydew at the expense of resource investment in flight apparatus. Since the dispersal of T. quercicola is limited under ant attendance, the reduction in flight apparatus could precede a decrease in body size. This study also showed that flight apparatus was more developed in aphids under ant-exclusion conditions. This may imply that T. quercicola fly when ants are not available. The maintenance of flight apparatus in T. quercicola might therefore be partly explained by gene flow on the rare occasions that this aphid species disperses.     

温度和湿度对麦长管蚜飞行能力的影响

利用计算机控制的微小昆虫飞行磨系统测定了温度、湿度对麦长管蚜Sitobion avenae飞行能力的影响。结果表明,适于飞行的温度为12～22℃,湿度为60%～80%。在温度8℃以下或25℃以上,其飞行能力明显降低。在温度18℃时,麦长管蚜的平均飞行时间、飞行距离最大分别为3.101 h、3.676 km。在相对湿度40%、60%和80%时,飞行时间分别为1.573 h、2.272 h和3.032 h,飞行距离与湿度的关系与飞行时间相似。飞行速度随温度的增高而加快,在相对湿度60%左右时,麦长管蚜的平均飞行速度较快。在20℃,相对湿度80%条件下,单个个体的最大飞行时间、最大飞行距离和最大飞行速度可达14.32 h、22.51 km和1.57 km/ h,表现出麦长管蚜具有较强的飞行能力。     

禾缢管蚜在不同温度条件下的飞行能力

通过利用昆虫飞行磨对室内饲养的禾缢管蚜Rhopalosiphum padi (Linnaeus)在不同温度(8℃一30℃)条件下飞行能力的测试结果。试验结果表明,禾缢管蚜的飞行距离和飞行时间在12℃～20℃时较大,平均飞行距离为6.614～8.219 km,平均飞行时间为5.074～7.003 h。在15℃时,单个个体的最大飞行距离和最长飞行时间分别达到26.231 km和21.153h：在8℃～10℃条件下禾缢管蚜较难起飞,即使起飞后飞行时间和距离均很短。在 23℃以上禾缢管蚜的飞行时间和距离逐渐缩短,30℃时禾缢管蚜起飞后很快就停止飞行。飞行速度随温度增高而加快,平均飞行速度在8℃时为o.781km/h,在30℃时达1.605km/h。     

Flight performance of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines (Hemiptera: Aphididae) under different temperature and humidity regimens

The soybean aphid, Aphis glycines (Matsumura), is native to eastern Asia and has recently invaded North America, where it is currently the most important insect pest of soybeans. The soybean aphid has spread rapidly within North America, presumably through a combination of active and passive (wind-aided) flight. Here, we studied the active flight potential of A. glycines under a range of environmental conditions using an aphid flight mill. Winged (alate) A. glycines were tested on a specially designed 32-channel, computer-monitored flight mill system. Aphids that were 12-24 h old exhibited the strongest flight behavior, with average flight durations of 3.3-4.1 h, which represented flight distances of 4.6-5.1 km. After the age of 72 h, A. glycines flight performance rapidly declined. The optimum temperature range for flight was 16-28 degrees C, whereas optimum relative humidity was 75%. Our findings show that A. glycines posseses a fairly strong active flight aptitude (ability and inclination) and point to the possibility of flight initiation under a broad range of environmental conditions. These results have the potential to aid forecasting and management protocols for A. glycines at the landscape level.     

Potato virus Y reduction by straw mulch in organic potatoes

Potato virus Y (PVY) is transmitted non-persistently by winged morphs of many aphid species and is a major problem in seed potato production. In order to evaluate the potential of straw mulch applications (4–5 t ha⁻¹) and presprouting on PVY reduction, small scale organically managed field experiments were carried out in Northern Hessen, Germany, over 3 yr. In all years mulching significantly reduced aphid infestation on leaves as well as PVY incidence in tubers. For the effect of presprouting the temporal coincidence of two factors was crucial – crop emergence and aphid flight activity. Presprouting decreased PVY incidence when in the phase of early crop emergence aphid spring flight activity was low, but increased it, although not significantly, when prominent aphid flight peaks occurred in this critical period. Straw mulch was most effective when vector pressure was concentrated early in the year acting as a PVY protectant for young plants. In later growth stages its effect declined gradually with increasing ground coverage of the crop. Combined mulching and presprouting had a synergistic, complementary effect on reduction of PVY incidence. In an on-farm experiment in 2001 scaling up the area mulched stepwise from 100 m² to 900 m² consistently kept aphid infestation at reduced levels.     

适用于蚜虫等微小昆虫的飞行磨系统

介绍了一套采用计算机进行控制和数据采集的适用于蚜虫等微小昆虫的飞行磨系统。该系统能同时对32头昆虫进行飞行测试,并对测试数据进行自动分析处理。利用该飞行磨系统对不同日龄禾缢管蚜的飞行能力进行了初步测试。结果表明,禾缢管蚜在第1至第5日龄的飞行能力最强,明显高于第7和第9日龄。平均飞行时间在各日龄之间差异不显著,但平均飞行速度随日龄的增加而逐渐降低。本文对飞行磨结构、数据采集接口板电路原理和软件流程设计等方面均进行了较为详细的介绍。并简要介绍了不同日龄禾缢管蚜的飞行能力测试结果。对开展微小型昆虫的飞行行为学研究具有较为重要的参考价值。     

Effect of parasitism on flight behavior of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines

Many aphid species possess wingless (apterous) and winged (alate) stages, both of which can harbor parasitoids at various developmental stages. Alates can either be parasitized directly or can bear parasitoids eggs or larvae resulting from prior parasitism of alatoid nymphs. Winged aphids bearing parasitoid eggs or young larvae eventually still engage in long-distance flights, thereby facilitating parasitoid dispersal. This may have a number of important implications for biological control of aphids by parasitoids. In this study, we determined the effect of parasitism by Aphelinus varipes (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) on wing development and flight of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines (Hemiptera: Aphididae). We also quantified the influence of aphid flight distance on subsequent A. varipes development. Parasitism by A. varipes was allowed at different A. glycines developmental stages (i.e., alatoid 3rd and 4th-instar nymphs, alates) and subsequent aphid flight was measured using a computer-monitored flight mill. Only 35% of aphids parasitized as L3 alatoid nymphs produced normal winged adults compared to 100% of L4 alatoids. Flight performance of aphids parasitized as 4th-instar alatoid nymphs 24 or 48 h prior to testing was similar to that of un-parasitized alates of identical age, but declined sharply for alates that had been parasitized as 4th-instar alatoid nymphs 72 and 96 h prior to testing. Flight performance of aphids parasitized as alate adults for 24 h was not significantly different from un-parasitized alates of comparable ages. Flight distance did not affect parasitoid larval or pupal development times, or the percent mummification of parasitized aphids. Our results have implications for natural biological control of A. glycines in Asia and classical biological control of the soybean aphid in North America.     

Aphid dispersal flight disseminates fungal pathogens and parasitoids as natural control agents of aphids

Abstract.  1. Dispersal flight, a well-known strategy for aphids to locate suitable plants, was studied for its possible role in disseminating fungal pathogens and parasitoids as natural control agents of aphids by air captures in Hangzhou, China during 2001–2005. Up to 3183 migratory alates of green peach aphid Myzus persicae were captured from air using a yellow-plus-plant trap on the top platform of a six-storey building in an urbanised area, and individually reared in a laboratory for ≥ 7 days.
2. Among the captured alates, 28.9% survived on average for 2.5 days and then died from mycoses attributed to 10 species of obligate or non-obligate aphid pathogens. These were predominated by Pandora neoaphidis , which was causative of 80% of the mycosed alates. Another 4.4% survived for an average of 3.7 days, followed by mummification of Aphidius gifuensis (52.9%) and Diaeretella rapae (47.1%).
3. Numerous progeny colonies individually initiated by infected, parasitised, or healthy alates were monitored daily for 12 days, and fitted well to a logistic equation depicting the potential of their post-flight colonisation and fecundity. Both infected and parasitised alates from air were highly capable of initiating progeny colonies independently, although their potential fecundity was greatly reduced compared with that of healthy counterparts.
4. Our results confirmed that both obligate and non-obligate pathogens can be widespread with aphid dispersal flight, and demonstrated that parasitoids also took advantage of the host flight for their dispersal. This study provides new insights into aphid dispersal biology.     

Flight behaviour of the bird cherry aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi

Abstract Seasonal winged forms of the bird cherry aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi L., were flown in an automated flight chamber. During their maiden flights, autumn migrants (gynoparae) had a greater initial rate of climb than summer (exules) and spring migrants (emigrants). Autumn migrants, presented with a laterally-positioned green-illuminated target for 2.5 s during each minute of flight, flew for a longer period before responding to the target (110 min) than summer migrants (36 min), while spring migrants responded after an intermediate time (72 min). This period is equivalent to the migratory phase of flight. The summer migrants were maximally responsive to targets illuminated by green monochromatic light (X, 555 nm). Targets illuminated with ultraviolet (γλ 360 nm) were attractive during the migratory and green-responsive phases of flight, but infrared (γλ700 nm) wavelengths were not attractive. The results are discussed with respect to aphid behaviour in the field.     

THE ORGANIZATION OF FLIGHT MUSCLE IN AN APHID, MEGOURA VICIAE (HOMOPTERA) : With a Discussion on the Structure of Synchronous and Asynchronous Striated Muscle Fibers

The organization of the indirect flight muscle of an aphid (Hemiptera-Homoptera) is described. The fibers of this muscle contain an extensive though irregularly disposed complement of T system tubules, derived as open invaginations from the cell surface and from the plasma membrane sheaths accompanying the tracheoles within the fiber. The sarcoplasmic reticulum is reduced to small vesicles applied to the T system surfaces, the intermembrane gap being traversed by blocks of electron-opaque material resembling that of septate desmosomes. The form and distribution of the T system and sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes in flight muscles of representatives of the major insect orders is described, and the extreme reduction of the reticulum cisternae in all asynchronous fibers (to which group the aphid flight muscle probably belongs), and the high degree of their development in synchronous fibers is documented and discussed in terms of the contraction physiology of these muscle cells.     

Feeding and sexual dimorphism in adult midges (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Adult chironomids feed readily on materials containing sucrose and glucose, and the addition of dyes is an easy way of demonstrating that food passes through the gut. Male and female flies are shown to make very different use of the food they take in. Males show no change in longevity but extend their flight time for an average of 160% over unfed males. Females, by contrast, show no detectable increase in flight time, but increase longevity by about 40%. Sexual dimorphism in the use of food seems appropriate to the roles of the sexes. We infer that males improve their swarming performance while females may benefit from increased longevity both in gaining time to find suitable mates and in the distance dispersed after mating. Males, and to a less extent females, are found on aphid infested trees near fresh water, and the suggested biological value of feeding is in sustaining the swarming flight especially for the males. Trichoptera adults are found feeding on aphid infested trees and the earlier findings that adult Trichoptera feed are confirmed.     

Effect of Adult Experience on in-Flight Orientation to Plant and Plant–Host Complex Volatiles inAphidius erviHaliday (Hymenoptera, Braconidae)

The effect of adult experience on in-flight orientation to plant–host complex volatiles byAphidius erviHaliday was studied in a wind tunnel bioassay, usingAcyrthosiphon pisum(Harris), maintained on broad bean plants (Vicia faba) as host. A short oviposition experience (15 s) on the plant–host complex (PHC) was sufficient to induce a drastic decrease of flight propensity and stimulated a foraging behavior characterized by intense walking activity. However, flight activity resumed to normal levels 1 h after the oviposition experience on the PHC occurred. For parasitoids conditioned on the PHC for at least 1 min the recorded proportion making oriented flights to the PHC was significantly higher than that for naive females. In contrast, oviposition experience in the absence of plant material did not influence theA. erviflight response. Oviposition attempts on aphid dummies without egg release did not reduce flight activity. WhenA. ervifemales were exposed to glass beads coated withAc. pisumcornicle secretion, a priming effect was observed, resulting, compared with naive females, in a significantly higher rate of oriented flights to the PHC. In contrast, oviposition attempts visually induced by colored aphid dummies did not influence flight behavior. A strong reaction to volatile cues from uninfested plants was induced by oviposition experience on newly infested broad bean plants. This appears to be a case of associative learning. In fact, uninfested broad bean plants are basically unattractive to naiveA. ervifemales. The results demonstrate that adult experience has a considerable influence onA. ervibehavior and may have important implications for biological control of natural pest aphid populations.     

Seasonal Phenology and Species Composition of the Aphid Fauna in a Northern Crop Production Area

Background

The species diversity of aphids and seasonal timing of their flight activity can have significant impacts on crop production, as aphid species differ in their ability to transmit plant viruses and flight timing affects virus epidemiology. The aim of the study was to characterise the species composition and phenology of aphid fauna in Finland in one of the northernmost intensive crop production areas of the world (latitude 64°).

Methodology/Principal Findings

Flight activity was monitored in four growing seasons (2007–010) using yellow pan traps (YPTs) placed in 4–8 seed potato fields and a Rothamsted suction trap. A total of 58,528 winged aphids were obtained, identified to 83 taxa based on morphology, and 34 species were additionally characterised by DNA barcoding. Seasonal flight activity patterns analysed based on YPT catch fell into three main phenology clusters. Monoecious taxa showed early or middle-season flight activity and belonged to species living on shrubs/trees or herbaceous plants, respectively. Heteroecious taxa occurred over the entire potato growing season (ca. 90 days). Abundance of aphids followed a clear 3-year cycle based on suction trap data covering a decade. Rhopalosiphum padi occurring at the end of the potato growing season was the most abundant species. The flight activity of Aphis fabae, the main vector of Potato virus Y in the region, and Aphis gossypii peaked in the beginning of potato growing season.

Conclusions/Significance

Detailed information was obtained on phenology of a large number aphid species, of which many are agriculturally important pests acting as vectors of plant viruses. Aphis gossypii is known as a pest in greenhouses, but our study shows that it occurs also in the field, even far in the north. The novel information on aphid phenology and ecology has wide implications for prospective pest management, particularly in light of climate change.     

Experimental simulation of transmission of an obligate aphid pathogen with aphid flight dispersal

The wide dispersal of Entomophthorales-caused mycoses that usually regulate aphid populations is most likely to be associated with the flight of infected alates. This hypothesis was examined via simulated flight and postflight colonization of Myzus periscae alates exposed to spore showers of Pandora neoaphidis, a common obligate aphid pathogen prevalent world wide. A total number of 407 alates were showered in different batches, then individually flown in a computer-monitoring flight mill system and reared on cabbage leaves for 14-day free reproduction and contagious infection within progeny colonies at 20-23 degrees C. On average, 80.6% of them flew 2.6 km in 1-5 h, survived 3.2 days, produced 5.3 nymphs, and transmitted their infection to progeny successfully. However, 9.8% of the flown alates left no progeny although they survived at least 1 day prior to mycosis while the rest were not mycosed, producing significantly more nymphs during the first week. The flight distances of the infected (0.01-10.2 km) or uninfected alates (0.1-8.3 km) were exponentially correlated to the flight time (r( 2) >or= 0.98). When grouped by the flight ranges of <1.0, 1.0-3.0, 3.0-5.0 and >5.0 km, the number of live aphids and the proportion of mycosed individuals per progeny colony over colonization days fit well to a complex logistic model (r( 2) = 0.984) and modified Gompertz model (r( 2) = 0.978) respectively. Both models included flight distance, postflight survival time, premycosis fecundity and primary infection rate as independent variables to affect the developmental rates. The results highlight the significant role of infected alates in the wide dispersal of P. neoaphidis-caused mycoses among aphids.     

Differential regulations of wing and ovarian development and heterochronic changes of embryogenesis between morphs in wing polyphenism of the vetch aphid

SUMMARY In wing polyphenisms that produced alternative wing morphs depending on environmental conditions, the developmental regulations to balance between flight and reproductive abilities should be important. Many species of aphids exhibit wing polyphenisms, and the development of wing and flight muscles is thought to incur costs of reproductive ability. To evaluate the relationship between flight and reproduction, the fecundity and the wing- and ovarian development in the parthenogenetic generations were compared between winged and wingless aphids in the vetch aphid Megoura crassicauda . Although no differences in offspring number and size were detected, the onset of larviposition after imaginal molt was delayed in winged adults. The comparison of growth in flight apparatus revealed that, after the second-instar nymphs, the flight-apparatus primordia of presumptive wingless aphids were degenerated while those of winged nymphs rapidly developed. In the ovaries of winged line, the embryo size was smaller and the embryonic stages were delayed from third to fifth instars, although these differences had disappeared by the time of larviposition. It is therefore likely that the delay in larviposition in winged aphids is due to the slower embryonic development. The correlation between embryo size and developmental stage suggests that the embryos of winged aphids are better developed than similarly sized embryos in wingless aphids. These heterochronic shifts would facilitate the rapid onset of larviposition after the dispersal flight. This developmental regulation of embryogenesis in the aphid wing polyphenism is suggested to be an adaptation that compensates the delay of reproduction caused by the wing development.     

The Effect of Abiotic Factors on the Male Mate Searching Behavior and the Mating Success of Aphidius ervi (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae)

The effect of wind speed and distance from the source on the male response of the aphid parasitoid, Aphidius ervi (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae), to a pheromone source was studied in a wind tunnel. The number of males taking flight, entering the plume and successfully reaching the source, decreased at wind speeds >50 cm/s. Furthermore, the proportion of those attempting upwind flight that fell to the ground increased with increasing wind speed. In contrast, distance from the source had no significant effect on any of the parameters examined. While male flight behavior was significantly reduced at 70 cm/s, some males walked to the source when there was a bridge connecting the pheromone source and the release platform. This suggests that ambulatory behavior could be a significant component of male mate searching in A. ervi when wind conditions are too strong for upwind flight. The possible effects of variation in atmospheric pressure on male flight behavior to the long distance pheromone, as well as to the short distance one, were also investigated. No significant effects of atmospheric pressure were observed. These findings differ significantly from those previously reported for another aphid parasitoid, A. nigripes, and the reasons for such differences are discussed.     

Effects of temperature on aphid phenology

Daily samples between 1964 and 1991 from suction traps throughout Great Britain were used to study the migration phenologies of five aphid species: Brachycaudus helichrysi, Elatobium abietinum, Metopolophium dirhodum, Myzus persicae and Sitobion avenae, and their relationship with temperature. Regression relationships have been established between characteristics of aphid phenology and temperature, latitude and longitude for each species. There were differences between species in the period for which temperature was most strongly associated with aphid phenology. The study indicates that temperature, especially winter temperature, is the dominant factor affecting aphid phenology, for all five species. A 1 °C increase in average winter temperature advanced the migration phenology by 4–19 days depending on species. Effects of temperature on the aphid phenology are similar between holocyclic and anholocyclic species, unlike the effects of temperature on date of first flight record which have been previously shown to be important only in anholocyclic species.     

Characteristics and Drivers of High-Altitude Ladybird Flight: Insights from Vertical-Looking Entomological Radar

Understanding the characteristics and drivers of dispersal is crucial for predicting population dynamics, particularly in range-shifting species. Studying long-distance dispersal in insects is challenging, but recent advances in entomological radar offer unique insights. We analysed 10 years of radar data collected at Rothamsted Research, U.K., to investigate characteristics (altitude, speed, seasonal and annual trends) and drivers (aphid abundance, air temperature, wind speed and rainfall) of high-altitude flight of the two most abundant U.K. ladybird species (native Coccinella septempunctata and invasive Harmonia axyridis). These species cannot be distinguished in the radar data since their reflectivity signals overlap, and they were therefore analysed together. However, their signals do not overlap with other, abundant insects so we are confident they constitute the overwhelming majority of the analysed data. The target species were detected up to ∼1100 m above ground level, where displacement speeds of up to ∼60 km/h were recorded, however most ladybirds were found between ∼150 and 500 m, and had a mean displacement of 30 km/h. Average flight time was estimated, using tethered flight experiments, to be 36.5 minutes, but flights of up to two hours were observed. Ladybirds are therefore potentially able to travel 18 km in a “typical” high-altitude flight, but up to 120 km if flying at higher altitudes, indicating a high capacity for long-distance dispersal. There were strong seasonal trends in ladybird abundance, with peaks corresponding to the highest temperatures of mid-summer, and warm air temperature was the key driver of ladybird flight. Climatic warming may therefore increase the potential for long-distance dispersal in these species. Low aphid abundance was a second significant factor, highlighting the important role of aphid population dynamics in ladybird dispersal. This research illustrates the utility of radar for studying high-altitude insect flight and has important implications for predicting long-distance dispersal.     

Flight of the bluegreen aphid Acyrthosiphon kondoi Shinji (Homoptera: Aphididae) I. Flight periodicity and phenological relationships

Abstract

Seasonal flight patterns of the bluegreen aphid (BGA), Acyrthosiphon kondoi Shinji (Homoptera: Aphididae) were studied. BGA had flight peaks twice a year in spring and autumn, BGA flight appeared to be diurnal. The main period of activity extended from 5 am to 7.30 pm.

The accumulated spring and autumn flight peaks lasted 422 Degree Days (DD) and 351 DD (2.9 and 2.4 BGA generations) respectively. Accumulated DD between the median of spring and autumn flights, and the autumn and following spring flight, was 1667 and 1676 DD; this corresponds to 11.5 and 11.6 BGA generations respectively. The use of DD for predicting BGA flight is discussed.