Winter host plant specialization in a host-alternating aphid

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...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of insect behavior 2000-11, Vol.13 (6), p.815-825
Main Authors: SANDSTRÖM, Jonas P, PETTERSSON, Jan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal behavior
Animal reproduction
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Aphididae
Autoecology
Autumn
Biological and medical sciences
Entomology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Grasses
Insects
Plant pathology
Protozoa. Invertebrata
Prunus padus
Rhopalosiphum padi
Spring
Winter
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary: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.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:0892-7553
1572-8889
DOI:10.1023/A:1007806416332