Production of sexual morphs by apterous virginoparae of Myzus persicae (Hemiptera : Aphididae) in relation to pre- and postnatal exposure to short day conditions

Abstract

The production of males and females by apterae of a holocyclic clone of Myzus persicae (Sulzer) was studied in the laboratory by transferring apterous virginoparae from long day to short day conditions at different stages of their pre- and post-natal development. Prenatal exposure was also examined in nine additional clones coming from different regions of Greece. By increasing the number of short day cycles at 17degreesC, the aphids switched to male production earlier and produced more males. The highest mean number of male progeny was observed in apterae that were transferred to short day conditions 13-14 days prenatally. Apterae that were transferred to short day conditions after the fourth nymphal instar produced only females. Apterous virginoparae were produced by aphids that were transferred to short day conditions 0-1 days prenatally or postnatally. Aphids, given short days prenatally or in the first instar, produced alate female progeny that were all gynoparae. The later the instar aphids were transferred to short day conditions the fewer the gynoparae produced among their female progeny. A reduction in the total number of progeny and embryos per ovariole was observed as aphids were transferred to short day conditions in earlier stages of their development. The increase in male production, which follows the increase in the duration of long night exposure, was also observed in the additional eight out of nine examined clones.