Flight of the bluegreen aphid, Acryrthosiphon kondoi Shinji (Homoptera: Aphididae). II. The effect of weather: Multiple regression and flight threshold analyses

Abstract

Multiple regression analysis failed to reveal clear relationships between weather conditions and flight of the bluegreen aphid (BGA), Acyrthosiphon kondoi Shinji (Homoptera: Aphididae). A threshold analysis was carried out on percent occurrence of flight and weather conditions during the spring flight peak of bluegreen aphid. Net radiation, temperature, and relative humidity for 50% flight occurrence (flight threshold) was 0.05 MJ/m², 8.75°C and 60% respectively. Rainfall above 2 mm/h halted aphid flight. Threshold analysis of flight and time showed that interaction of several environmental factors served to modify the flight behaviour.

Keywords:

• Homoptera
• Aphididae
• Acyrthosiphon kondoi
• insect flight
• suction trap
• threshold analysis
• weather
• temperature
• net radiation
• relative humidity
• rainfall
• percentage flight occurrence