Effects of temperature on the reproduction, development, and survival of pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum)

Pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris) are pest of several agricultural crops including peas, lentils, and alfalfa. They are of great concern due to their rapid parthenogenetic reproduction, ability to produce winged (alate) or non-winged (apterous) offspring, and vectoring of over 30 plant viruses, including Pea Seed-borne Mosaic Virus (PSbMV). Given that rising temperatures are a key consequence of climate change, we investigated how temperature influences pea aphid development (from birth to adulthood), reproduction rate, total number of aphids, mortality, and presence of alate offspring. Among the six temperatures tested (6°C, 12°C, 16°C, 21°C, 28°C, and 35°C), 12°C resulted in the greatest development time of 25 days, an absence of alate aphids, and a low number of offspring to be produced. 21°C was identified to be the most optimal temperature for pea aphids, as the development period was 12 days, and possessed the highest number of offspring and alate aphids. Ultimately, 35°C was determined to be detrimental to pea aphid development, as it significantly impacted their survivorship, development, and ability to produce offspring. Additionally, we examined if PSbMV-infected pea plants at 28°C altered the parameters that were being tested. Preliminary results indicate that when pea aphids are infected with PSbMV, there is no significant difference in development, reproduction rate, total number of aphids produced, mortality, and presence of alate offspring. The results from this study highlight the severe consequences that temperature has on the pea aphid lifecycle and how crucial the effects of climate change are on insect development.