THE INFLUENCE OF HEAT ON SOME APHIDS

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Abstract
The thermal death‐points of five species of aphids removed from their host plants lay between 38 and 41°C., when tested for 1 hr. at 60%r.h. Many aphids alive after 1 hr. at high temperatures died within the next day; no Myzus persicae recovered and reproduced after 1 hr. above 37.5°C. Third and fourth instars and adult apterae withstood heat better than first and second instars and alatae. More aphids died at 90%r.h. than at 60%r.h, and more at 60% than at 30%r.h. Aphids kept at 15%r.h. for 4 hr. before being heated showed a higher mortality than those kept at 95%r.h. Aphids on plants withstood temperatures higher than their thermal death‐point off the plant. Presumably aphids can continue to cool themselves by evaporation while feeding; also lower temperatures on the surface of transpiring plant tissues will aid survival.

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