Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Urbana, Illinois » Soybean/maize Germplasm, Pathology, and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #219627

Title: Evaluation of Artificial Diets for Rearing Aphis Glycines (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Author
item WILLE, BRIDGET - UNIV. OF ILLINOIS
item Hartman, Glen

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/3/2008
Publication Date: 11/1/2008
Citation: Wille, B., Hartman, G.L. 2008. Evaluation of Artificial Diets for Rearing Aphis Glycines (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 101:1228-1232.

Interpretive Summary: The soybean aphid is an economically important pest that feeds solely on the phloem of mostly soybean and buckthorn plants. Phloem is high in sugars and nitrogen in the form of amino acids, and is often lacking feeding deterrents or toxins. There are several benefits to rearing aphids on artificial diets. Aphids are traditionally reared on their host plants, but the exact composition of the plant's phloem is rarely known, and can vary based on temperature, stress, or the life stage of the plant. Artificial diets allow the researcher to rear aphids on a chemically defined diet that remains consistent regardless of environmental conditions. This study compared five diets previously developed for the green peach aphid and the pea aphid to determine if any of the artificial diets were suitable for rearing soybean aphids. Diet C, originally developed for M. persicae, supported 12 generations of soybean aphids. Although it was the best diet tested, aphid mean development time, fecundity, and longevity were greatly reduced in comparison to aphids reared on soybean plants or on detached soybean leaves. This information is useful to scientists rearing insects on artificial diets; and to those wanting a system to determine what chemicals may be detrimental to aphids.

Technical Abstract: Artificial aphid diets have been previously developed for the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, and the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae. The ability to rear aphids on an artificial diet allows for selectively adding or subtracting compounds from an aphid's food source to determine the effect on fecundity and longevity. Five diets previously developed for the green peach aphid and the pea aphid were tested for their suitability for rearing soybean aphids, Aphis glycines. The best diet, originally developed for the green peach aphid, allowed 12 generations of soybean aphids to develop. For all diets tested, aphid mean development time, fecundity, and longevity were greatly reduced in comparison to aphids reared on soybean plants or on detached soybean leaves.