Sitobion avenae explained

Sitobion avenae, the English grain aphid, is an aphid in the superfamily Aphidoidea in the order Hemiptera. It is a true bug and sucks sap from plants. It lives on grasses, sedge and rushes and can be a significant pest of cereals.^[1]

This species act as a host of the entomophthoralean fungi.^[2]

Parthenogenesis

Some genotypes of S avenae are obligate parthenogens and some are cyclical parthenogens.^[3] Cyclically parthenogenetic lines can reproduce parthenogenetically in the spring and summer. Production of sexual females and males is induced during autumn by decreasing day length and decreasing temperature. Mating followed by egg laying occurs on grasses (Poaceae) during late November. Eggs can overwinter with delayed development (diapause), and then, after being exposed to cold for two or three months, can hatch spontaneously and initiate the next cycle of clonal reproduction.^[3]

References

• http://aphid.aphidnet.org/Sitobion_avenae.php
• http://www7.inra.fr/hyppz/RAVAGEUR/6sitave.htm
• http://www.agroatlas.ru/en/content/pests/Sitobion_avenae/
• http://entoweb.okstate.edu/ddd/insects/englishgrainaphid.htm

Notes and References

1. Web site: Sitobion avenae (English Grain Aphid) identification, images, ecology.
2. 10.1155/2013/838145. free. The Occurrence of Two Species of Entomophthorales (Entomophthoromycota), Pathogens of Sitobion avenaeand Myzus persicae(Hemiptera: Aphididae), in Tunisia. 2013. Ben Fekih. Ibtissem. Boukhris-Bouhachem. Sonia. Eilenberg. Jørgen. Allagui. Mohamed Bechir. Jensen. Annette Bruun. BioMed Research International. 2013. 1–7. 23862158. 3697232.
3. Dedryver CA, Le Gallic JF, Mahéo F, Simon JC, Dedryver F . The genetics of obligate parthenogenesis in an aphid species and its consequences for the maintenance of alternative reproductive modes . Heredity (Edinb) . 110 . 1 . 39–45 . January 2013 . 22990313 . 3522239 . 10.1038/hdy.2012.57 .