Flight and settling behaviour ofRhopalosiphum Padi(L.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Abstract

AbstractAlate exules ofRhopalosiphum padi(L.) were flown in a flight chamber for three different flight times: 1 min, 5 min and 25 min. The rate of climb was recorded continuously during flight. Afterwards, the aphids were forced to land on either wheat or potato and settling behaviour was recorded. The settling response was strengthened with increasing flight time on both plants. The aphids spent more time walking and made more probes on potato than on wheat after 25 min of flight. The rate of climb was the same immediately before landing as immediately after a spontaneous re-take-off, except after a 25-min flight and landing on potato when the rate of climb was significantly higher after re-take-off. Comparison withAphis fabaeScop. from other investigations showed that the change in settling response with flight time was similar for the two species.R. padiseemed less able to discriminate rapidly between host and non-host plants thanA. fabae. It is concluded that its behaviour does not hinderR. padifrom being a vector of stylet-borne potato viruses.