Moisture as the Factor affecting Wing Development in the Citrus Aphis, Toxoptera aurantii, Boy

Abstract

1. Temperature does not affect wing development in Aphids.2. A great percentage of Aphids developed wings when they were crowded, or when they were forced to feed on stale or wilted food. This was due to the small amount of food and particularly of water which each individual Aphid obtained.3. A reduced percentage of water in the food of Aphids, as well as a low atmospheric humidity, are primary factors causing wing development.4. All the factors such as light, temperature, crowding, humidity, precipitation, growth of plant, etc., exert, directly or indirectly, an influence on the water balance in the body of the Aphid, which in turn causes wing development.