Biology and Ecology of Appendiseta Robiniae (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) – an Alien Species in Europe
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Cent. Eur. J. Biol. • 7(3) • 2012 • 487-494 DOI: 10.2478/s11535-012-0034-3 Central European Journal of Biology Biology and ecology of Appendiseta robiniae (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) – an alien species in Europe Research Article Beata Borowiak-Sobkowiak1,*, Roma Durak2 1Poznań University of Life Sciences, Department of Entomology and Environmental Protection, 60-594 Poznań, Poland 2University of Rzeszów, Department of Invertebrate Zoology, 35-601 Rzeszów, Poland Received 16 December 2011; Accepted 06 March 2012 Abstract: Elements of the biology and ecology of A. robiniae were studied in Poland during the period of 2008–2009. The term of spring hatching, number of generations per season, developmental time of particular generations, lifespan of specimens and fecundity of particular generations were all defined. The dynamics of the species’ occurrence on its host plant were also determined. The two-year study showed a maximum of 11 aphid generations can develop on Robinia pseudoacacia. Females of the second and third generations were found to be the most fertile. These findings indicate that the species has adapted well in Poland and its biological predispositions have enabled it to rapidly increase in population. Keywords: Robinia pseudoacacia • Bionomy • Development • Abundance dynamics © Versita Sp. z o.o. 1. Introduction on R. neomexicana var. albiflora Kusche or Sephora japonica L. [5,7,11]. In Europe, black locust is often Appendiseta robiniae (Gillette, 1907) is the only planted along streets and in parks, especially in large representative of the genus Appendiseta Richards, cities, because it tolerates pollution well. It is highly 1965. According to Heie and Wegierek [1] this valued as nectar bearing plant. species belongs to the family Drepanosiphidae, The current literature covering the biology of subfamily Calaphidinae, tribe Panaphidini, subtribe A. robiniae includes no detailed data referring to its Panaphidina. specific biology. Adult morphs and development of larval A. robiniae is a Nearctic species commonly found instars have been described so far [6,12,13]; however, in some areas of North America [2,3] on black locust as of yet, other aspects of its biology have not been (Robinia pseudoacacia L) trees. Along with the plant, examined in detail. the species was carried to the Neotropics [4] and, most The aim of this study was to describe the unknown importantly, to the Western Palearctic [5,6], where elements of A. robiniae biology and establish whether favourable habitat conditions allowed the species to its adaptation to Poland’s climate would facilitate rapid flourish. This species has been found in central and population growth. This involved determining the term southern Europe [7]; however, in Poland, A. robiniae of spring hatching, as well as the number of generations has been recorded only twice, in central and western per season, developmental time, individual lifespan areas of the country [8,9]. and fecundity in particular generations. In addition to A. robiniae is described as an alien species in Europe observing in insectary conditions, a field study was [10]; a holocyclic, monoecious, monophagous species conducted in order to specify the term of species feeding on R. pseudoacacia, and only exceptionally occurrence and its dynamics on its host plant. * E-mail: [email protected] 487 Biology and ecology of Appendiseta robiniae (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) – an alien species in Europe 2. Experimental Procedures D is the developmental period from birth to the beginning of the first reproduction (pre-reproductive 2.1 Aphids reared in insectary conditions period) and Md is the number of nymphs produced by Studies on the biology of A. robiniae were conducted the adult in the first D days of reproduction after the adult in insectary conditions in the garden of the Chair of moult. The aphids were reared in a climate chamber Entomology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poland, (Sanyo) at a constant temperature of 20°C, 70% relative from 2008 to 2009. The aphids were isolated on the humidity and a 16:8 h L:D photoperiod. stems of R. pseudoacacia L. A single parthenogenetic female was placed under each isolator (gauze cage). 2.3 Abundance dynamics studies The first larvae they gave birth to would mark the In order to determine the abundance dynamics of beginning of a new generation. The female was then A. robiniae on R. pseudoacacia, samples of 10 leaves moved to a new isolator, where her fecundity was studied. from 10 trees were collected between May and October Parthenogenetic females of particular generations were in monthly intervals. Both adults and larvae were observed in terms of the length of pre-reproductive, included in the sample. reproductive and post-reproductive periods throughout their lifespan. The development of five females in each 2.4 Meteorological conditions generation was studied. Observations were conducted Meteorological data came from the Meteorological from April to the end of November. Station Poznań-Marcelin (Figures 1, 2), which is situated During autumn, sexuparae generation was observed 3 km from where the research was conducted. in the order of rearing amphigonic females and males. With this aim in mind, subsequent larvae were bred 2.5 Statistical analysis under separate isolators until they reached maturity. The statistical analysis, conducted using a Kruskal-Wallis In order to define a fecundity index for amphigonic test, examined the data on particular developmental females, a dissection of 30 mature females was stages of generations, the total lifespan and fecundity. performed. Differences in developmental stages: pre-reproductive, reproductive, post-reproductive, total lifespan and 2.2 Aphids reared in controlled conditions fecundity, between subsequent generations in vegetation The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was calculated with seasons were compared. The data was analyzed the Wyatt and White formula [14,15], which relates the separately for 2008 and 2009 and between years. To fecundity of an individual aphid to its development time: determine any relationship between developmental rm=(lnMdx0,738)/D. stages and temperature, non-parametric correlations Figure 1. Meteorological conditions in Poznań in 2008. 488 B. Borowiak-Sobkowiak, R. Durak Figure 2. Meteorological conditions in Poznań in 2009. (Spearman rank correlation) were used. Duration of June temperatures. The reproductive period lasted pre-reproduction, reproduction, and post-reproduction between 11 to 36 days on average (Table 1). The periods; longevity and average maximum temperature; longest average reproduction period in 2008 was average minimum temperature; and average daily noted for the fundatricae and females of the fourth and temperature in 2008 and 2009 were examined. The data seventh generations, whereas in 2009, the females of was statistically analysed using StatSoft, Inc. (2010), the eighth generation reared the longest (approximately STATISTICA, version 9.0, (www.statsoft.com). 36 days) followed by females in the second and ninth generations (Figure 3). The shortest reproductive stage was reported in the seventh and tenth generations in 3. Results 2009 (11 days on average). The post-reproductive period most frequently lasted Viviparous females in all generations were found to from 0 to 9 days (Figure 3). It lengthened in the last be winged, while in the sexual generation apterous three generations, lasting up to 20 days for the tenth oviparae and alate males occurred. The aphids infested generation of females in 2009 (Table 1). The second, leaves, feeding along ribs. The fundatricae hatched third and eighth generations took the longest to develop, from eggs at the end of April, during the stage when typically around 50 days (Table 1). the firstR. pseudoacacia leaves started to grow. Across The statistical analysis revealed significant the two study seasons, 10 (9 parthenogenetic and differences in the development of particular aphid 1 sexual) generations were noted in 2008 and 11 (10 generations in 2008. Significant differences in the length parthenogenetic and 1 sexual) in 2009 (Figure 3). The of development were observed in the pre-reproductive first stage of ontogenesis of parthenogenetic females, stage between generations 1 and 2, 2 and 3, 3 and namely the pre-reproductive stage, took 11 to 24 4, 2 and 5, and 3 and 8 (H=39.79; P≤0.05) (Table 1). days on average (Table 1). The longest average pre- Generations did not differ significantly in the length reproductive stage (about 20 days) was reported in 2008 of reproductive or post-reproductive stages or in their for females of the second and eighth generations, and in lifespan. 2009 for the third and tenth generations (Figure 3). The Significant statistical differences were observed shortest average pre-reproductive stage took 11 days between generations during the 2009 vegetation and occurred in the third generation of the 2008 season. season. The differences were mainly found in the This may have been caused by rather unusually high lengths of pre-reproductive stages between generations 489 Biology and ecology of Appendiseta robiniae (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) – an alien species in Europe Figure 3. The average length of developmental stages of parthenogenetic females of A. robiniae on Robinia pseudoacacia in insectary conditions in 2008-2009. Average length of development stages in days Year Generation Overall longevity Prereproduction Reproduction Postreproduction 2008 1 13.2 (12-16) [2**] 30 (22-42) 0 43.2 (36-54) 2 20.4 (18-21)[1**, 3***,