Life history performance of Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on six different host plants under microcosm condition

Aphis gossypii Glover is considered as the most important polyphagous pest of a wide range of economically important plants in fields and greenhouses. In this study, the demography of cotton aphid, reared on six different host plants, including cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. var. Beith Alpha), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. Falat111), eggplant (Solanum melongena var. Yummy), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus var. Clemson Spineless), squash (Cucurbita pepo var. Hybrid Rajai), and pepper (Capsicum annuum var. Bertene) was investigated using the age-stage, two-sex life table under microcosm conditions (23±2°C and 70±5% RH and a photoperiod of 16L:8D h). The results revealed the differential effect of host plants on developmental duration, fecundity, and life table parameters of A. gossypii. The shortest nymphal duration (4.57±0.177 days), the longest adult longevity (21.87±0.184 days), the highest fecundity (73.6±0.85 offspring/female), the highest intrinsic rate of increase (r) (0.369±0.006 day-1) and the lowest mean generation time (T) (11.646±0.202 days) of the aphid were obtained on squash. Furthermore, the results of the population projection revealed that the population growth of cotton aphid was higher on squash, compared to other host plants. These findings suggested that squash as the most suitable host plant for A. gossypii among the tested hosts.