COLONY DEFENSE BY WINGPADDED NYMPHS IN GRYLLOPROCIPHILUS IMBRICATOR (HEMIPTERA: APHIDIDAE)
Abstract
Large, wax-covered colonies of the North American aphid Grylloprociphilus imbricator (Fitch) are known to last over several months on exposed twigs of American Beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrhart). We hypothesized that the colonies could not persist for such a long period without defense against predators, and found that nymphs of the second generation attacked moth larvae that had been artificially introduced into the aphid colony. Nymphs of all four instars participated in the attack and stung the larvae with their stylets. Of 69 nymphs that attacked the larvae, 36 (52.2%) were 4th instar. Unlike older nymphs of other eriosomatines, wingpadded 4th-instar nymphs of G. imbricator were slender in shape with long legs, and actively walked around on the twig. This is the first report that wingpadded nymphs are the main defenders of an aphid colony.Downloads
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