In view of the continuous snowing, I’m reading on my macbook the Book of Insect Records and at chapter 6 entitled “Shortest Generation Time” I found aphids for the first time.
“Generation time is the time needed to complete one generation. Insects of short generation time have higher rates of increase and develop resistance to insecticides more quickly than insects of comparatively longer generation time. Temperature and food quality are two key factors that may influence the generation time. The aphid Rhopalosiphum prunifolia has the shortest generation time: 4.7 days at 25°C“. The silver medal goes to Rhopalosiphum maidis that finishes one generation in 5.0 days at 25°C.
These very short generation times are really incredible and this means in both cases that more than 70 generations could be present for each year under optimal temperature and feeding!!!!
Reference: Tang Li. (1995). [Shortest Generation Time]. Chapter 6 in University of Florida Book of Insect Records, 2001.
