BIOLOGY OF THE CORN LEAF APHID, RHOPALOSIPHUM MAIDIS (HOMOPTERA: APHIDIDAE), IN SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO

Abstract

AbstractThere was no evidence that the corn leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch), can overwinter in southwestern Ontario. An alate with a small colony of nymphs was found on 26 April, indicating that migration from the south starts early in the spring. Early migrants colonized winter barley, but not winter oats, rye, or wheat. Colonization on field corn did not occur until over a month after plant emergence. Only small numbers of alatae initiated infestations on corn and the large variation in size of aphid infestations observed at pollination was due to differences in the longevity and fecundity of these few early attackers. The whorl leaves which enclosed the tassel before pollination provided a very favorable environment for rapid development of the aphids. Trapping of alatae in yellow pans of water at the periphery of a corn field in the fall showed that a minimum temperature of 13°C was required for flight. At a constant temperature of 25.5°C and a light:dark photoperiod of 14:10 h, the average prereproductive, reproductive, and postreproductive periods for 29 aphids were 5.9, 15.8, and 9.6 days, respectively. The average number of nymphs produced/female was 68.2.