The influence of natural enemies on wing induction in Aphis fabae and Megoura viciae (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

G. Kunert, K. Schmoock-Ortlepp, U. Reissmann, S. Creutzburg, W. W. Weisser

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that the aphid species, Aphis fabae Scopoli and Megoura viciae Buckton, do not produce winged offspring in the presence of natural enemies, in contrast to results for the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris)) and the cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii Glover); but these studies did not involve exposing aphids directly to natural enemies. We exposed colonies of both A. fabae and M. viciae to foraging lacewing (Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens)) larvae and found that the predators did not induce winged morphs among offspring compared to unexposed controls. Colonies of A. fabae responded to an increase in aphid density with increasing winged morph production, while such response was not found for M. viciae. We suggest that different aphid species differ in their susceptibility to natural enemy attack, as well as in their sensitivity to contact.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)57-62
Number of pages6
JournalBulletin of Entomological Research
Volume98
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Aphid polyphenism
  • Chrysoperla carnea
  • Density effects
  • Predator-prey interaction

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