Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Maintaining Biological Cultures and Measuring Gene Expression in Aphis nerii: A Non-model System for Plant-insect Interactions
Published on: August 31, 2018
Density-dependent induction and suppression of soldier differentiation in an aphid social system
Harunobu Shibao1, Mayako Kutsukake, Takema Fukatsu
1Institute for Biological Resources and Functions, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 305-8566, Japan.
Abstract:
We investigated the mechanism underlying the control of soldier production in colonies of a social aphid, Tuberaphis styraci, which has a sterile soldier caste in the second instar. High aphid density was shown to induce soldier production in T. styraci. Analysis of natural colonies revealed that the soldier proportion tended to increase with aphid density but reached a plateau. Artificial diet experiments identified a similar plateau of soldier proportion under high-density conditions. In order to gain insights into the controlling mechanism of soldier production, the effect of soldiers on reproducing adult aphids was examined using the artificial diet system. It was experimentally demonstrated that soldier production was suppressed by coexisting soldiers, whereas coexisting non-soldiers facilitated soldier production. These results suggested that caste ratio in the colony of T. styraci is controlled by positive and negative feedbacks consisting of density-dependent induction and suppression of soldier differentiation.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Frequency-dependent Selection
Types of Selection
The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes
Normal male Drosophila has a ratio of one X chromosome to two sets of autosomes. In contrast, normal female Drosophila...
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
Understanding Species and Reproductive Barriers
Deindividuation

