Feeding behavior of two exotic aphid species on their original hosts in a new invaded area

Abstract

Greenidea ficicola Takahashi and Greenidea psidii van der Goot (Aphididae: Greenideinae) are Asian aphid species newly introduced in Brazil associated with Moraceae and Myrtaceae. The feeding behavior of G. ficicola and G. psidii was investigated on their respective host plants, Ficus benjamina (Moraceae) and Psidium guajava (Myrtaceae), using the Electrical Penetration Graph (EPG). Fifteen females of each aphid species were monitored during 24h using a DC-EPG GIGA-4 monitor. The time spent in phloem phase (waveforms E1 and E2) was 13.6% of the total recording time for G. ficicola and 0.8% for G. psidii. The average time in the pathway phase (waveforms C and pd) represented 50% of the total time for both species. Aphids spent more time in non-penetration and stylet pathway activities than in the phloem phase or actual feeding. The principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the two species formed different groups in relation to EPG parameters, despite some overlapping. The probing patterns with multiple penetrations of short duration in the sieve elements for both species may indicate apparent unsuitability for sustained feeding on their respective host plants. These results suggest that these two exotic species are in the process of adaptation to their host plants in their new environment and/or the plants may present either chemical or physical barriers against these insects.

How generalist insect herbivores respond to alien plants? The case of Aphis fabae–Myzus persicae–Rhododendron ponticum

“…This technique offers a vast field of investigation to study the different hypotheses and concepts related to the biology of invasion notably documented, 18 the interaction between invasive plants and native aphids, 19 or invasive aphids and native plants. 20,21 The Pontic rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum L. subsp. baeticum) is a shrub native to the south of the Iberian Peninsula.…”

“…The electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique has been developed over the past 50 years to study the host plant colonization process by aphids, which is achieved through a sequence of several behavioral steps 16,17 : (i) probing the epidermis, (ii) stylet pathways activity in the mesophyll, (iii) sieve element puncture and salivation, (iv) phloem acceptance and sustained sap ingestion. This technique offers a vast field of investigation to study the different hypotheses and concepts related to the biology of invasion notably documented, 18 the interaction between invasive plants and native aphids, 19 or invasive aphids and native plants 20,21 …”

The composition of the aphid fauna (Insecta, Hemiptera) of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

“…the alien aphids are absent where the host plant does not occur. Some alien aphids were introduced with the exotic host 20,21 , thus, these (at least in some cases), are restricted to artificial habitats such as botanic gardens, greenhouses, parks and gardens in city areas. Among them, botanic gardens are classified as the oldest form of urban greenery, covering all aspects of plant conservation policy, practice and education and characterized by high plant diversity 22 .…”

Probing behavior of Dysmicoccus brevipes mealybug in pineapple plants1

“…This technique has been previously used to study the probing behavior of several sucking insects (Calatayud et al 1994, Kindt et al 2006, Miranda et al 2009, Cid & Fereres 2010, Lazzarotto et al 2011, Liu et al 2013, Moraes et al 2013, Santa-Cecília et al 2013, plant resistance (Crompton & Ode 2010) and viral transmission (Tjallingii & Prado 2001, Fereres & Moreno 2009). …”