Comparison of nutrient reservation in apterous and alate pea aphids, acyrthosiphon pisum (harris). 2. Amino acid contents

Abstract

The contents of free amino acids in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, were analyzed. At the neonate stage the total contents were higher in isolated aphids than crowded ones. All of the isolated aphids became apterae and 70 to 80% of the crowded ones alatae. Consequently the lower contents of total free amino acids in the first instar lavae might possibly be one of the factors inducing the postnatal alate course of development. A conceivable cause of the fluctuations in amino acid content during alate adult stage is also discussed. © 1990, JAPANESE SOCIETY OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY AND ZOOLOGY. All rights reserved.