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Longevity, fecundity, change in degree of gravidity and lipid content with adult age, and lipid utilisation during tethered flight of alates of the corn leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis
Author(s) -
LIQUIDO NICANOR J.,
IRWIN MICHAEL E.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1986.tb01984.x
Subject(s) - alate , aphid , biology , fecundity , homoptera , longevity , aphididae , zoology , rhopalosiphum maidis , botany , horticulture , pest analysis , population , medicine , genetics , environmental health
SUMMARY The longevity, daily fecundity, degree of gravidity and lipid content of alates of varied ages, and lipid utilisation during sustained tethered flight of the corn leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis , were studied. Alates had a mean longevity of 9.7 days and a mean fecundity of 14.9 nymphs. A significant increase in the lipid content of alates before emerging as adults was observed. Newly emerged and half‐day‐old alates had more lipid reserve and embryos than 1‐, 2‐, 4‐, 8‐, and 16‐day‐old specimens. The lipid content of alates decreased significantly with age. The alates' degree of gravidity and lipid content had a low but significant correlation. Half‐ to 1‐day‐old alates flew readily and could fly for much longer durations than 2‐ and 4‐day‐old. Eight‐day‐old alates were not capable of flight. R. maidis utilised lipid during prolonged tethered flight. Our data suggest that there is a threshold point when alates cease utilising stored lipid as the energy source and start utilising non‐lipid sources as flight fuel energy.