Development, Reproduction and Body Size Variation of Aphis glycines Matsumura Fed on Different Plants

Soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura is one of the most important pests in soybean. Life cycle of A. glycines is characterized as heteroecious and holocyclic. The primary hosts of A. glycines are Rhamnus spp. and the secondary hosts include cultivated soybean, Glycine max(L.) Merr, and wild soybean, Glycine soja Sieb.& Zucc. In this study, A. glycines were fed on Trifolium repens L. and Metaplexis japonica(Thunb.) Makino for three generations and their development, reproduction and body sizes were studied. These data were compared to the control fed on the known hosts, G. max and G. soja. These newly deposited offspring by the 3 rd generation were transferred back onto G. max and these differences in their development, reproduction and body sizes were also studied. It showed that A. glycines all could survive, develop and reproduce well, when they were fed on T. repens and M. japonica for three generations, but there were significant differences in their nymph stage, adult longevity and fecundity, life table parameters and body sizes. When these offspring were transferred back onto G. max which were newly deposited by the 3 rd generation aphids fed on T. repens and M. japonica, they could survive, develop and reproduce well, but there were significant differences in their nymph stage, adult longevity, intrinsic rate of increase and body sizes. It provided important information for studies on host adaptability of A. glycines on T. repens and M. japonica and to make clear the potential that this aphid involved into host biotypes on these plants.