Environmental Entomology (2001) 30, 1127-1134

Luis Asin and Xavier Pons (2001)
Effect of high temperature on the growth and reproduction of corn aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae) and implications for their population dynamics on the northeastern Iberian Peninsula
Environmental Entomology 30 (6), 1127-1134
Abstract: The development, reproduction and longevity of corn aphids Rhopalosiphum padi (L.), Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) and Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker) were studied at 18, 22, 25, 27.5 and 30°C. Only nymphs of R. padi survived at 30°C, but the adult reproductive capacity was very low. Rhopalosiphum padi performed better than M. dirhodum at all temperatures tested, and better than S.avenae over the range of 22–27.5°C. The better performance of R. padi was due to a lower nymphal mortality, lower developmental and prereproductive times and a higher intrinsic rate of increase (r_m). Sitobion avenae had a higher r_m than M. dirhodum at all temperatures. The most suitable temperature for population development was ~28.5°C for R. padi, 26.5°C for S. avenae and 24.5°C for M. dirhodum, suggesting the ability of aphid populations to adapt to high temperatures in the Iberian peninsula. The role of temperature as a key factor in determining aphid population dynamics in the northeastern Iberian peninsula is discussed.
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Database assignments for author(s): Xavier Pons

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Sitobion avenae	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	Spain (continental)
	Rhopalosiphum padi	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	Spain (continental)
	Metopolophium dirhodum	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	Spain (continental)