AMINO ACID COMPOSITION AND OTHER NUTRITIONAL CONSTITUENTS OF PEA APHIDS,ACYRTHOSIPHON PISUM(HEMIPTERA (HOMOPTERA): APHIDIDAE), AND THEIR HOSTS, BROAD BEANS AND ALFALFA

Abstract

AbstractPea aphids,Acyrthosiphon pisum(Harris), contained about 21% dry matter, of which 11% was fat, 7% sugar, and 56% protein. Broad bean foliage contained half the amount of dry matter, one-third as much fat, about the same amount of sugar, and four-fifths the amount of protein as the aphids. Alfalfa at prebloom and 10% bloom contained the same amount of dry matter and about half as much fat and protein as the aphids; sugar was about one-fifth at prebloom and half at 10% bloom as the aphids. Pea aphids are of considerable nutritive value. FAO protein scores, which estimate protein quality, were similar for aphids and alfalfa and slightly lower for broad bean foliage.