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Comparison of economic and plant phenology-based thresholds for management of Lygus lineolaris (Hemiptera: Miridae) in Minnesota strawberries.

Field studies were conducted in southeastern Minnesota, 2000-2002, to assess damage potential and management options for adult Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois) in June-bearing strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa). The first study was designed to assess the efficacy of a published economic threshold for L. lineolaris nymphs compared with a plant phenology-based threshold management program, targeted at L. lineolaris adults. L. lineolaris nymphs were sampled using the standard white pan beat method; adults were sampled using yellow sticky traps. In the second study, during 2001-2002, caged strawberries were artificially infested with adult L. lineolaris at specific plant growth stages (i.e., vegetative, green bud, white bud, first blossom, peak blossom, first green fruit, and first ripe fruit) to determine the most susceptible growth stages of strawberry. The phenology-based thresholds proved to be more effective in managing L. lineolaris than the current economic threshold based on nymphs. Results from the infestation timing study indicate that early-growth stages (i.e., green and white bud) are most susceptible to adult L. lineolaris feeding damage. During the early-growth stages, only L. lineolaris adults were present; infestations of nymphs occurred primarily from first blossom to green berry. Results from both studies indicate that (1) management of adult L. lineolaris during the early strawberry growth stages is recommended for maximizing marketable yield and (2) the use of plant phenology-based thresholds, when adults are present, will significantly improve insecticide spray timing, and thus minimize the number of insecticide sprays.

Animals↗

Host plant pubescence: effect on silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii, fourth instar and pharate adult dimensions and ecdysteroid titer fluctuations.

The ability to generate physiologically synchronous groups of insects is vital to the performance of investigations designed to test insect responses to intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli. During a given instar, the silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii, increase in depth but not in length or width. A staging system to identify physiologically synchronous 4th instar and pharate adult silverleaf whiteflies based on increasing body depth and the development of the adult eye has been described previously. This study determined the effect of host plant identity on ecdysteroid fluctuations during the 4th instar and pharate adult stages, and on the depth, length and width dimensions of 4th instar/pharate adult whiteflies. When grown on the pubescent-leafed green bean, tomato and poinsettia plants, these stages were significantly shorter and narrower, but attained greater depth than when grown on the glabrous-leafed cotton, collard and sweet potato plants. Thus, leaf pubescence is associated with reduced length and width dimensions, but increased depth dimensions in 4(th) instars and pharate adults. For all host plants, nymphal ecdysteroid titers peaked just prior to the initiation of adult development. However, when reared on pubescent-leafed plants, the initiation of adult development typically occurred in nymphs that had attained a depth of 0.2 to 0.25 mm (Stage 3 - 4). When reared on glabrous-leafed plants, the initiation of adult development typically occurred earlier, in nymphs that had attained a depth of only 0.15-0.18 mm (Stage 2 Old - early 3). Therefore, based on ecdysteroid concentration, it appears that Stage-2, -3 and -4/5 nymphs reared on pubescent-leafed plants are physiologically equivalent to Stage-1, -2 Young and -2 Old/3, respectively, nymphs reared on glabrous-leafed plants. The host plant affected the width but not the height of the nymphal-adult premolt ecdysteroid peak. However, leaf pubescence was not the determining factor. Thus, host plant identity affects physiological events as well as structural characteristics during whitefly nymphal and adult development.

Animals↗

Effect of different photoperiods on the growth, infectivity and colonization of Trinidadian strains of Paecilomyces fumosoroseus on the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, using a glass slide bioassay.

Growth, infectivity and colonization rates for blastospores and conidia of Trinidadian strains T, T10, and T11 of Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (Wize) Brown and Smith were assessed for activity against late fourth-instar nymphs of Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) (Homoptera:Aleyrodidae) under two different photoperiods (24 and 16 hour photophase). A glass-slide bioassay and a fungal development index, modified for both blastospores and conidia, were used to compare the development rates of the fungal strains on the insect hosts. Fewer adult whiteflies emerged from nymphs treated with blastospores and reared under a 16:8 hour light:dark photoperiod than a 24:0 hour photoperiod. Eclosion times of whitefly adults that emerged from nymphs treated with the different strains of conidia were similar over the 8 day experimental period at both light regimes. The percent eclosion of adult whiteflies seems to be directly correlated with the speed of infection of the blastospore or conidial treatment and the photoperiod regime. The longer photophase had a significant positive effect on development index for blastospores; however, a lesser effect was observed for the conidia at either light regime. Blastospore strain T11 offered the most potential of the three Trinidadian strains against T. vaporariorum fourth-instar nymphs, especially under constant light. The glass-slide bioassay was successfully used to compare both blastospores and conidia of P. fumosoroseus. It can be used to determine the pathogenicity and the efficacy of various fungal preparations against aleyrodid pests.

Animals↗

Duration and regulation of the developmental cycle of Ixodes dammini (Acari: Ixodidae).

To determine how long the various developmental stages of the deer tick (Ixodes dammini Spielman, Clifford, Piesman & Corwin) survive in nature and to establish the interval between blood feeding and ecdysis or oviposition as well as subsequent larval eclosion, we observed ticks confined in the field. Unless adults feed during their first season (fall through spring) of activity, they die and do not survive the summer. Nonfed nymphs survive through two seasons (May through August) of feeding activity such that annual cohorts overlap. Nonfed larvae survive less than one year, and because they hatch toward the end of the summer, cohorts of this developmental stage do not overlap. Larvae that feed before September molt promptly and overwinter as nymphs; those that feed later overwinter engorged and ecdyse during the following spring. Fed nymphs fail to survive the winter, and thus must feed before late summer. They develop to the adult stage in the same year in which they feed. Regardless of time of feeding, females lay eggs in early summer, and the resulting larvae synchronously eclose late in that season. Although the cycle of this tick can be completed in nature in two years, it may extend to four years when hosts are relatively scarce. The seasonal inversion of larvae and nymphs appears to be regulated by physiological mechanisms and by host abundance.

Animals↗

Distribution and movement patterns of German cockroaches (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae) within apartment buildings.

Trapping experiments conducted in multifamily apartments indicated movement of German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (L.), between apartments was greatest in adjacent kitchens; 65% of the emigrating cockroaches came from adjoining kitchen areas. Cockroach distribution parameters indicated that all life stages were aggregated. Aggregation was most pronounced for small nymphs, followed by adults; large nymphs were the least aggregated. Iwao's regression coefficients and resultant distributions implied movement of large nymphs was greatest, followed by adults and small nymphs.

Animals↗

Laboratory biology of Hyalomma truncatum (Acari: Ixodidae).

The life cycle of Hyalomma truncatum Koch (Acari: Ixodidae) required an average of 108 d at 26 +/- 1 degree C. 92-96% RH, and a 12:12 (L:D) photoperiod to complete. Mean weights of unfed larvae, nymphs, and females were 0.02, 0.19, and 11.1 mg, respectively. Weight of larvae, nymphs, and females increased 20-, 91-, and 48-fold, respectively, as a result of feeding on guinea pigs. All stages exhibited host-seeking behavior less than 1 d after emergence. The mean (+/- SE) feeding period of larvae, nymphs, and adults was 3.8 (+/- 0.1), 7.7 (+/- 0.3), and 8.3 (+/- 0.3) d, respectively. Larvae and nymphs molted an average of 11.0 (+/- 0.3), and 30.7 (+/- 0.2) d after engorgement, respectively. The female/male sex ratio, as determined from emerged adults, was 1.4:1. Oviposition started an average of 11.9 (+/- 0.8) d after engorgement, and a mean of 6.701 eggs per female was deposited. A total of only 48% of the eggs enclosed after a mean incubation of 35 (+/- 1.1) d. Females converted 56% of their engorged weight into eggs and produced an average of 12,614 (+/- 2.0) eggs/g of engorged body weight. On the first day of oviposition, an egg less than 24 h old weighed an average of 44.8 (+/- 1.5) micrograms. Egg weight was significantly (P less than 0.01) lower during peak egg production (days 2-8 after onset of oviposition) than during reduced egg production (days 14-20 after onset of oviposition).

Animals↗

Seasonal activity of nymphal Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in different habitats in New Jersey.

Activity patterns of nymphal Ixodes scapularis Say were compared between habitat types (dominant tree types: mixed deciduous, oak, white pine, red cedar, sassafras, and spicebush). Both the time of peak abundance and the relative abundance of questing nymphs at the peak were compared. Several smoothing algorithms were tested with the data to determine if they could be used to estimate the time of peak abundance more accurately. Determination of the time of peak abundance using the raw data or simple moving averages was susceptible to outliers. Weighted averages were less susceptible to outliers. The seasonal pattern of nymphal abundance was similar in all habitat types. Variation in the time of peak abundance between habitats was low. Peak densities were lower in deciduous habitats (0.24 +/- 0.05 nymphs per square meter) than in nondeciduous habitats (0.85 +/- 0.15 nymphs per square meter); this could have resulted from higher host use of the nondeciduous areas. These data suggest that there are differences in the population dynamics of nymphs found in different habitats.

Animals↗

Life cycle of Ornithodoros (Alectorobius) talaje (Acari: Argasidae) in laboratory.

Specimens of Ornithodoros (Alectorobius) talaje (Guérin-Mèneville) collected in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, were used to start a laboratory colony. Larvae were fed on chicks and nymphs and adults were fed on adult chickens. From the specimens that emerged after the third molt, 97.6% were nymphs and 2.4% were males. After the fourth molt, 41.6% were nymphs, 37.6% were males, and 20.8% were females. After the fifth molt, 24% were males and 60% were females; the remainder were nymphs. The number of eggs per female per gonotrophic cycle and the mean duration of preoviposition, oviposition, and incubation periods were recorded. At the first gonotrophic cycle, duration of preoviposition period was longer and the number of eggs was smaller than any other studied gonotrophic cycle. The life cycle was completed within 849 d (maximum). The O. (A.) talaje first-instar nymphal population failed to molt without having a blood meal, which differs from other Alectorobius species. Parthenogenesis was not observed. Larval morphology was studied by optical microscopy. Unengorged specimens were larger, with smaller dorsal plate and fewer dorsal setae than those previously described.

Animals↗

Multivariate morphometric discrimination of nymphal and adult forms of the blacklegged tick (Acari: Ixodidae), a principal vector of the agent of Lyme disease in eastern North America.

A morphological study of postlarval stages of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, was conducted to examine congruence between northern (formerly I. dammini Spielman, Clifford, Piesman & Corwin) and southern morphotypes. The character set totaled 17 for females, 25 for males, and 28 for nymphs. Populations from 6 geographic areas, F1 progeny from reciprocal crosses between I. scapularis from Massachusetts and Georgia, and I. pacificus Cooley & Kohls from California were measured. Characters, except cornua length in nymphs, were positively correlated with PC1, indicating it was a general-size eigenvector. Characters used previously by others to distinguish northern and southern forms had a highly positive allometric relationship to general size. In canonical variate analysis (CVA) of nymphs, canonical score 1 (CAN1) discriminated I. pacificus from all other groups, canonical score 2 (CAN2) discriminated the remaining groups in a pattern that correlated with latitude, and canonical score 3 (CAN3) separated the western (Minnesota and Missouri) from the eastern groups. Size-free CVA indicated that north-south discrimination was size dependent, but that variation between Missouri and all other groups was not size related. Mahalanobis distances between groups within stages were significant with the exception of the 2 groups of female progeny of reciprocal crosses (Massachusetts x Georgia). Analysis of variance and Student-Newman-Keuls tests revealed that each geographic population differed from all other groups in at least 1 nymphal character. Nymphs from northern areas (Minnesota, Massachusetts, Maryland) differed from those from southern areas (Missouri, North Carolina, Georgia) in characters associated with the basis capitulum (longer intercornua and interauricular distances, basis capituli, and hypostome internal files, larger auriculae, but shorter cornua). Western populations (Minnesota, Missouri) differed from eastern populations in idiosomal characters (broader scutum, larger coxae III and IV). Frequency polygons of characters with the greatest differences indicated that data are continuous and geographic variation is overlapping. Thus, the data support the previous contention of conspecificity of I. scapularis and I. dammini. I. scapularis appears to be a polytypic species with a widespread geographic distribution exhibiting north-south and east-west morphological clines in eastern North America.

Animals↗

Western gray squirrel (Rodentia: Sciuridae): a primary reservoir host of Borrelia burgdorferi in Californian oak woodlands?

In California, dense woodlands have been recognized as important biotopes where humans are exposed to the nymphal stage of the western blacklegged tick, Ixodes pacificus Cooley & Kohls, the primary vector of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.), in the far-western United States. To identify the principal reservoir host(s) of this spirochete, and of closely related spirochetes in the B. burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex, in dense woodlands in Mendocino County, California, approximately 50 species of birds and mammals, including wood rats and kangaroo rats, were evaluated as potential hosts for vector ticks and borreliae in 2002 and 2003. Although polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing analyses revealed that many vertebrate species had been exposed to one or more members of the B. burgdorferi s.l. spirochetal complex, only the western gray squirrel, Sciurus griseus, fulfilled the major criteria for a reservoir host of B. burgdorferi s.s. Ear-punch biopsies from eight of 10 squirrels collected from five separate woodlands were PCR-positive for B. burgdorferi s.s., 47% of I. pacificus larvae (n = 64) and 31% of nymphs (n = 49) removed from squirrels contained B. burgdorferi s.l., and the engorgement status of I. pacificus larvae was associated positively with acquisition of spirochetes. Overall, 83 and 100% of the amplicons sequenced from PCR-positive I. pacificus larvae and nymphs, respectively, were identified as B. burgdorferi s.s, Among the five remaining positive I. pacificus larvae, three contained B. bissettii and two had uncharacterized B. burgdorferi s.l. Borrelia burgdorferi s.s. was detected in one of five larvae and zero of two nymphs of the Pacific Coast tick, Dermacentor occidentalis Marx, that likewise had been removed from squirrels. The rickettsial agent of human anaplasmosis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, was detected in the blood or ear biopsies of two squirrels and in one (1.6%) of 64 I. pacificus larvae and two (4.1%) of 49 nymphs obtained from squirrels. The one rickettsial-positive larva was coinfected with B. burgdorferi s.s. The apparently high reservoir potential of S. griseus for B. burgdorferi s.s., plus the fact that the geographic distribution of this squirrel coincides well with that of most reported human cases of Lyme disease in this region, indicated that it may be essential for maintaining foci of B. burgdorferi s.s. in certain types of woodlands. The findings with respect to A. phagocytophilum, although of less certain significance, suggest that S. griseus could serve as a secondary host of this rickettsia.

Animals↗

The paradoxical effects of nutrient ratios and supply rates on an outbreaking insect herbivore, the Australian plague locust.

1. The Australian plague locust, Chortoicetes terminifera, develops following rainfall in an environment dominated by two host plants, the annual Dactyloctenium radulans and the perennial Astrebla lappacea. This simple system provides an ideal opportunity to explore the relationship between plant quality, individual herbivore performance and population responses. 2. We compared the two grasses chemically and structurally, and the behavioural, physiological and developmental responses of locust nymphs to these diets. 3. The grasses appeared to be of similar nutritional quality in terms of their chemical composition, although they differed in their physical properties. Early instar nymphs performed equally well on both grasses. However, older nymphs consuming D. radulans developed faster, survived better and attained a higher body weight compared with those consuming A. lappacea. 4. The differences in performance by the older nymphs related to the rate and ratio of supply of carbohydrate and protein from the two grasses, with less carbohydrate being assimilated from A. lappacea than D. radulans per unit of protein assimilated. Experiments showed that these differences arose as a direct result of the physical barrier to nutrient extraction provided by cell walls and indirectly through the amount of water contained within each cell. Paradoxically, nitrogen did not limit performance in the traditional sense through shortage,but rather its relative excess in A. lappacea appeared to impede intake and assimilation of adequate carbohydrate. 5. As a consequence, we predict that the length of time D. radulans remains available following rainfall will influence plaguing dynamics, although not for the reasons previously thought. 6. The results highlight the need to consider nutrient balance and actual rates of supply (rather than simply measuring the chemical composition of the plant) when attempting to understand herbivore nutritional ecology.

Animals↗

Effects of fenoxycarb on development and reproduction of the oriental cockroach, Blatta orientalis.

In a laboratory study, groups of third-instar Blatta orientalis nymphs were reared to adulthood in arenas containing fenoxycarb (48 mg a.i./m2) treated ceramic or plywood tiles. The reproductive capacity of the emergent adults was assessed by pairing each individual with two untreated individuals of the opposite sex. Oothecal production, oothecal hatch and the numbers of nymphs emergent from each hatched ootheca were monitored. Exposure to 1-day-old deposits of fenoxycarb reduced adult emergence by 45-75% in comparison with an untreated control treatment. Substantial (> 40%) mortality also resulted when nymphs were exposed to deposits up to 3 months old on plywood and up to 6 months old on ceramic. Exposure to fenoxycarb significantly extended the time taken to reach adulthood of males contacting 6-month-old deposits on both surfaces, and of females contacting 1-year-old deposits on ceramic. Adult females exposed as nymphs to fenoxycarb were unable to produce oothecae, except one female laid a non-viable ootheca. Untreated females paired with treated males produced large numbers of oothecae of normal appearance but very low viability, with only 0-7.1% hatching. With marked effects on both development and reproduction in B.orientalis, fenoxycarb is a promising agent for control of this species.

Animals↗

Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasmataceae members in Ixodes ricinus ticks in Alsace, a focus of Lyme borreliosis endemicity in France.

Due to the high Lyme borreliosis incidence in Alsace, in northeastern France, we investigated in 2003-2004 three cantons in this region in order to determine the density of Ixodes ricinus ticks infected by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasmataceae. The peak density of nymphs infected by B. burgdorferi sensu lato at Munster and Guebwiller, where the disease incidence was high, was among the highest reported in Europe (105 and 114 per 100 m(2), respectively). In contrast, the peak density of infected nymphs was low in the canton of Dannemarie (5/100 m(2)), where the disease incidence was low. The two main species detected in ticks were Borrelia afzelii, more frequent in nymphs, and Borrelia garinii, more frequent in adult ticks. The rates of tick infection by Anaplasma phagocytophilum were 0.4% and 1.2% in nymphs and adults, respectively.

Anaplasmataceae↗

Prevalence of Borrelia Burgdorferi sensu lato genomospecies and of the human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) agent in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected in the area of Monti Lepini, Italy.

Ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropods that are parasites in every class of vertebrates in most regions of the world. They are also considered to be important vectors for the transmission of human infectious diseases. In the present study we used polymer chain reaction (PCR) amplification analysis to determine the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi and Ehrlichia phagocytophila, the agents of, respectively, Lyme borreliosis and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis, among ticks inhabiting the area of Monti Lepini, a wild area located in the Latium Region of Italy. A total of 141 I. ricinus ticks (125 nymphs and 16 adults) were collected in the studied area. Total DNAs were extracted from I. ricinus nymphs (pooled in groups of five) and from individual adults. The DNA samples were examined for the presence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato and E. phagocytophila by PCR using two specific pairs of oligonucleotides that specifically amplify distinct DNA regions of the 16S rRNA genes of the two species. The prevalence of vectors infected with B. burgdorferi s. l. was 16% in pooled nymphs samples, and 12.5% in adult ticks, while E. phagocytophila was found only in pooled nymphs samples (8%). Three genomospecies were identified, namely Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, and Borrelia valaisiana, in samples found positive for B. burgdorferi s. l. No sample was found positive for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto.

Animals↗

Host specificity of Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) (Acari: Ixodidae) with comments on the drop-off rhythm.

The parasitic specificity of larval, nymph and adult Amblyomma cajennense on six different host species: Oryctolagus cuniculus, Rattus norvegicus, Gallus gallus domesticus, Anas platyrhynchus, Coturnix coturnix and Streptopelia decorata is described. In terms of the numbers of larvae and nymphs recovered, O. cuniculus was the best host species. The modal day for drop-off of larvae and nymphs was day three for the mammal hosts, but variable in the birds. We conclude that adult A. cajennense have a strong degree of specificity due to the fact that the tick failed to complete its life cycle on any of the evaluated hosts. The immature stages, on the other hand, showed a low level of specificity, most especially in the larval stage, indicating the existence of secondary hosts which probably serve as dispersers in the wild. The results also indicated a variable drop-off rhythm for larvae and nymphs in two periods, diurnal (6-18 hr) and nocturnal (18-6 hr), which differed depending upon the host.

Adult↗

Effect of sub-lethal concentrations of permethrin on ovary activation in the predator Supputius cincticeps (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae).

Insecticides may cause mortality and deleterious effects on predatory stinkbugs. For this reason, the effect of five concentrations of permethrin applied on third instar nymphs of Supputius cincticeps (Stål) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) was investigated on ovary activation in this predator. The nymphs received topical application of permethrin in the following concentrations (mg a.i./ml): 10(-7), 10(-6), 10(-5), 10(-4), and 10(-3). Ovary lengths and oocyte numbers were quantified following first egg mass. Ovary length of S. cincticeps varied from 5.7 mm with 10(-4) mg a.i./ml, to 6.4 mm with 10(-7) mg a.i./ml, with similar values for the other permethrin concentrations and for the control. The number of oocytes per female varied from 13.5 with 10(-3) mg a.i./ml, to 29.2 for the control, with significant differences. The number of oocytes per female of nymphs exposed to a permethrin concentration of 10(-5) mg a.i./ml was similar to that of the control. However, the lower number of oocytes per female from nymphs exposed to other concentrations of permethrin suggests that this insecticide may affect the reproductive capacity of this predator. The results obtained are discussed in relation to tolerance of Heteroptera predators to insecticides and possible hormesis occurrence.

Animals↗

Impact of reflective mulch on yield of strawberry plants and incidence of damage by tarnished plant bug (Heteroptera: Miridae).

The current study investigated the impact of reflective mulch on yield of strawberry plants and incidence of damage by tarnished plant bugs, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), for three strawberry cultivars: 'Honeoye', 'Earliglow', and two sibling Dayneutrals ('Tribute' and 'Tristar', herein considered as one cultivar). Of all cultivars tested, Honeoye was the most productive and least susceptible to tarnished plant bug. For Earliglow and Honeoye, reflective mulch enhanced productivity of strawberry plants and suppressed density of nymphs per flower cluster and proportion of damaged fruits, but did not significantly impact numbers of nymphs or damaged fruits per hectare, Results with Dayneutrals were not consistently significant. Both in the presence or absence of reflective mulch, proportion of damaged fruits increased with increasing density of nymphs per flower cluster and with decreasing number of fruits harvested per row section, suggesting that planting productive strawberry cultivars or maintaining cultural practices that promote high yield may provide an effective line of defense against tarnished plant bug. These results also suggest that reflective mulch may suppress incidence of damage by tarnished plant bug both directly, by reducing number of nymphs per flower cluster, and indirectly, by enhancing productivity of strawberry plants. Economic analyses evaluating costs and benefits of using reflective mulch, as well as studies investigating mechanisms that underlie the impact of reflective mulch on yield and incidence of damage by tarnished plant bug, are still needed before reflective mulch can be implemented as a management strategy in commercial strawberry fields.

Agriculture↗

Effect of cotton cultivar on performance of Aphis gossypii (Homoptera: Aphididae) in Iran.

Cotton aphids, Aphis gossypii Glover (Homoptera: Aphididae), obtained from cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., fields in the Gorgan region of northern Iran, were colonized on 'Varamin' cotton plants in a growth chamber. The development, survivorship, and life table parameters of the cotton aphid were evaluated at 27.5 +/- 1 degrees C, 65 +/- 10% RH, and aphotoperiod of 14:10 (L:D) h of artificial light on five commonly growing cotton cultivars: Varamin, 'Sealand' (relatively resistant cultivar), 'Bakhtegan', 'Sahel' (both relatively susceptible cultivars), and 'Siokra' [resistant to Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)]. The developmental times of immature stages ranged from 4.6 d on Bakhtegan and Varamin to 6.3 d on Sealand, whereas the immature survival was 97.5 to 65% on Sahel and Siokra, respectively. On average, there were 28.7, 28.3, 23.5, 20.1, and 16.8 nymphs produced per female on Sahel, Bakhtegan, Varamin, Sealand, and Siokra, respectively. The intrinsic rate of natural increase (r(m)) for cotton aphids on Sahel was the highest, whereas the values for r(m) varied from 0.284 (nymphs per female per d) on Siokra to 0.368 on Sahel. Jackknife estimates of generation times (T), net reproductive rate (R(0)), doubling time (DT), and finite rate of increase (lambda) on these cultivars were as follows: 9.79-10.84 d for T, 9.23-23.81 nymphs per female for R(0), 2.17-3.19 d for DT, and 1.28-1.38 nymphs per female per d for lambda. Cotton aphid performance was at its highest on Sahel and lowest on Siokra.

Animals↗