| Summary: | The pea aphid <i>Acyrthosiphon pisum</i> (Harris) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is a cosmopolitan and polyphagous species. An evaluation of <i>A. pisum</i>’s demographic parameters and growth was carried out after rearing aphids on faba bean plants (<i>Vicia faba</i>) under five different temperature conditions (10 °C, 15 °C, 20 °C, 25 °C and 30 °C). We analyzed the raw life history data, including developmental time, survival, longevity and reproduction, using an age-stage, two-sex life table to consider variable developmental rates among individuals. The population fluctuation of <i>A. pisum</i> determined the stage-specific population structure and potential population growth under different temperature conditions. <i>A. pisum</i> individuals developed successfully from nymphs to adults at all temperatures in this study. The developmental rate of <i>A. pisum</i> increased as the temperature increased. Our results indicated that <i>A. pisum</i> showed a higher pre-adult mortality, lower total fecundity and a negative intrinsic rate of increase at 30 °C. The highest intrinsic rate of increase (0.30) and finite rate of increase (1.35) were observed at 25 °C. Comparisons of population parameters and their analytical methods between different <i>A. pisum</i> populations from other geographic areas are also discussed.
|
|---|