›› 2009, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (10): 1171-1176.

• RESEARCH PAPERS • Previous Articles    

Bioassays on phototactic responses of Myzus persicae (Homoptera: Aphididae) to different monochromatic lights

  

  • Online:2009-10-20 Published:2009-10-20

Abstract: In order to explore the quantitative index of aphid selection responses to different lights, bioassays on the phototactic response of alate and apterous Myzus persicae to different monochromatic lights were conducted using filter technology. The results showed that the alate aphids were significantly attracted by the monochromatic lights with the wavelength ranging from 490 to 550 nm. Among the spectra, the yellowish green light of the wavelength 538.9 and 549.9 nm elicited the strongest behavioral response of the alate aphids, with the mean displacements 25.29 and 22.97 cm respectively, and followed by blue green light (491.5 nm). But the yellow monochromatic light (576.0 nm) was unattractive to the alate aphids. There were no clear peaks in the phototactic response profile of apterous aphids whose maximum relative mean displacement was only 1.41. The results of behavior bioassays are roughly in accordance with previous electrophysiological bioassays, indicating that using displacement as the index of phototactic response of tiny insects is reliable.

Key words: Myzus persicae, phototaxis, monochromatic light, yellow sticky board