The visual responses of free‐flying summer and autumn forms of the black bean aphid, Aphis fabae, in an automated flight chamber

Summer (virginoparae) and autumn (gynoparae) winged forms of Aphis fabae were flown in an automated flight chamber for up to 100 min, while being exposed to a small green target at their own level for 5 s of each minute. Virginoparae climbed more slowly than gynoparae and responded to the target by turning towards it throughout experimental flights. Gynoparae, on the other hand, were almost completely unresponsive to the target, although some individuals began to respond after an hour or more of flight. The differences between the two migratory forms are discussed with reference to previous work on aphid flight behaviour in the field and the laboratory.