An Investigation of the Behavior of the Pea Aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum

 

Joan C. Sharp and Maydianne Andrade

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 1994, Volume 15

Abstract

The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, is a versatile laboratory organism. This experiment investigates the response of pea aphids to an alarm pheromone normally produced in response to predator attack. The responses of aphids feeding on good quality and on poor quality long bean plants will be compared and discussed in terms of the costs and benefits of antipredator behaviors. The life cycle of the pea aphid is demonstrated and information about obtaining, rearing, and working with pea aphids is provided.

Keywords:  behavior, phermone, aphid, life cycle, parthenogenesis

University of Toronto (1993)