Interplant movement of apterous aphids with special reference to Myzus persicae (Sulz.) (Hem., Aphididae)

Abstract

It is likely that under some conditions apterous aphids are significantly involved in the spread of plant viruses, most importantly by walking across soil from plant to plant. Various factors which affect their importance are considered in the paper.Figures are given for the frequency of movement of apterae of Myzus persicae (Sulz.) under settled conditions; this was found to vary with the species of host-plant that the aphid was on.Eourth-instar and adult apterae can walk proficiently on soil. The effect of soil condition on this is described. The walking speed of adult apterae on soil is 5.2 cm./min. at 18°C, and 1.2 cm./min. at 8.5°C. The walking speed of fourth-instar aphids on soil is 3.2 cm./min. at 18°C.Experiments showed that walking aphids are well able to locate a new host-plant, and that the attraction is visual.The significance of these observations is discussed, and it is concluded that apterae have a greater potential as virus vectors than has been generally realised.