Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-2020

Abstract

Sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari Zehntner (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is now widely established in sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Poaceae), production areas of the USA, and is an important economic pest. To calculate economic thresholds, population growth parameters under varied temperature conditions are needed. However, detailed laboratory studies of temperature effects on the biology and population parameters of M. sacchari since the sorghum outbreak in the US have not been performed previously. Therefore, this study evaluated the response of M. sacchari to 6 different constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, 32, and 35 °C) on sorghum tissue. Aphid development, age-specific survivorship, fecundity, and longevity were compared at the mentioned temperatures. At 20 °C, the reproductive period was longest and total fecundity was greatest. Development time of M. sacchari was shortest at 25 and 30 °C. Intrinsic rate of increase was highest at 25 °C (rm= 0.405 ± 0.030). Net reproductive rate (R0) was highest at 20 °C, and age-specific survivorship decreased with increasing temperature. At 25 °C, aphid populations doubled in 1.7 d, the shortest among all temperatures tested. Using a modification of the nonlinear Logan model, the lower and upper developmental thresholds of M. sacchari were calculated at 8.6 and 37.8 °C, respectively, with the optimum temperature for development occurring at 28.3 °C. Population parameters, together with high minimum and maximum thermal thresholds, indicate that M. sacchari is an aphid species adapted to higher temperatures.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Florida Entomologist

First Page

116

Last Page

123

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