Environmental Entomology (2012) 41, 665-668

Lindsey R. Milbrath and Jeromy Biazzo (2012)
Development and reproduction of the foxglove aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on invasive swallow-worts (Vincetoxicum spp.)
Environmental Entomology 41 (3), 665-668
Abstract: The foxglove aphid, Aulacorthum solani (Kaltenbach), recently was documented using the invasive species pale and black swallow-wort (Vincetoxicum rossicum (Kleopow) Barbar, and V. nigrum (L.) Moench, respectively) as host plants. Because these are new host plant records for this polyphagous species, we investigated foxglove aphid development and reproduction on pale and black swallow-wort relative to a known crop host, potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), at a 25:20°C thermophase and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h. Almost no such data have been previously reported for a noneconomic host plant. Larval development and survival, as well as adult reproductive development and fecundity, were similar between the two swallow-wort species and potato. Adult aphids lived significantly longer on pale swallow-wort than the other two host plants, but this extended longevity encompassed the postreproductive stage. Foxglove aphid population parameters were therefore similar among the three plant species as well as most previous reports on crop plants. Pale and black swallow-wort appear to be suitable secondary hosts for foxglove aphid; other factors possibly limit aphid abundance on these two plant species in the field.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Lindsey R. Milbrath

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.
	Aulacorthum solani	Potato (Solanum tuberosum)	U.S.A. (NE)
	Vincetoxicum rossicum (weed)		U.S.A. (NE)
	Vincetoxicum nigrum (weed)		U.S.A. (NE)