EFFECTS OF INFESTATIONS BY THE CORN LEAF APHID, RHOPALOSIPHUM MAIDIS (HOMOPTERA: APHIDIDAE), ON FIELD CORN IN SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO

Abstract

AbstractThe effects of various levels of infestation of the corn leaf aphid, Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch), on yield of field corn were examined from 1965 to 1970 inclusive when all plants whose yield might have been influenced by factors other than aphid feeding were excluded from the data. A possible relationship between moisture stress in plants and degree of aphid injury was also investigated.A light infestation (maximum of 400 aphids on the tassel) caused average yield reductions up to 8.3% when plants were under moisture stress, but nil to negligible losses when moisture was adequate. Moderate infestations (many hundreds of aphids on part of the tassel) produced average losses up to 34.8% under drought conditions and up to 11.8% when moisture was abundant. Severe infestations (many hundreds of aphids on most of the tassel) caused average yield reductions ranging from 43.2 to 91.8% when plants were under water stress and up to 58.9% even with abundant moisture. Very severely infested plants (many hundreds on all of the tassel and whorl leaves) were usually barren or had ears with just a few kernels regardless of moisture conditions.Most injury from aphid feeding appeared to occur before and during pollination. No particular combination of temperature and rainfall favored aphid buildup.