Acta Entomologica Sinica ›› 2020, Vol. 63 ›› Issue (4): 433-438.doi: 10.16380/j.kcxb.2020.04.006

• RESEARCH PAPERS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Differences in ovarian and embryonic development between alate and apterous morphs of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines(Hemiptera: Aphididae)

XU Xiang-Li, WU Jun-Xiang*    

  1. (Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in Northwestern Loess Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management, Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China)
  • Online:2020-04-20 Published:2020-05-08

Abstract: 【Aim】 The ovarian development of alate and apterous morphs of the soybean aphid, Aphis glycines was compared to provide a biochemical basis for the reproductive fitness of wing morph differentiation. 【Methods】 Based on the ovarian morphology observed 
under microscope, the number of ovarioles, total number of embryos, number of mature embryos, and the volume of the largest embryo in each ovariole of A. glycines were compared for alate and apterous morphs. 【Results】 There are two ovaries per female of alate and apterous morphs of A. glycines at the 3rd and 4th instar nymphal and adult stages. Most aphids contain four ovarioles per ovary, and only one ovary was found to contain five. The total number of embryos and number of mature embryos and the volume of the largest embryo increases significantly with increasing developmental period of both wing morphs. However, the total number of embryos and number of mature embryos are significantly lower, and the volume of the largest embryo is significantly smaller in alate than in apterous individuals at the same stage, respectively. There is a significantly positive relationship between the 
total number of embryos and the hind tibia length of alate and apterous morphs of A. glycines at the 3rd and 4th instar nymphal and adult stages. Alate and apterous aphids show an exponential growth in the volume of the largest embryo. However, the largest embryo of alate aphids is distinctly smaller than that of apterous aphids. 【Conclusions】 Alate aphids of A. glycines display a delay in the ovarian development as compared to apterous aphids, and the difference in ovarian development degree between them may be related to wing development.

Key words: Aphis glycines, alate morph, apterous morph, ovarian development, reproductive potential