Host plant age and population development of a cereal aphid, Metopolophium dirhodum (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The sudden decline following the peak in population abundance of aphids on crops of small grain cereals is attributed to the joint effect of natural enemies and plant senescence. To distinguish between these causes, a four year experiment was established in which the numbers of Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker) infesting spring wheat plots sown from April to June at c. 14 day intervals were determined. Aphid abundance in replicates sown at successive dates peaked within a period of 5-9 days (106-171 day degrees above a base temperature of 0 degrees C) although their sowing dates varied by 62-97 days (727-1106 day degrees). At the time of the aphid population peaks, plants in the different sowings differed in age (11-99 days), developmental stage (stage 15-65 on the Zadoks scale), leaf nitrogen content and shoot mass. Maximum abundance of M. dirhodum decreased with sowing date because the time available for its population increase was shorter on late than early sowings. The abundance of M. dirhodum on spring wheat was similar to its abundance on winter wheat. After reaching peak abundance, aphids declined in numbers within 3-7 days. The effect of host plant ageing on the M. dirhodumdecline thus appeared small. Natural enemies (largely mycoses), and timing of alata production may have contributed to the aphid decline.