BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF APHIS-GOSSYPII GLOVER (HOMOPTERA, APHIDIDAE)

Aphis gossypii Glover is a destructive pest of over two dozen crops wo rld wide. Damage to a few of these crops is due to direct feeding, but for most of these crops its impact is through its role-as a virus vec tor. As expected, this has resulted in many articles dealing with meth ods of controlling this insect. The aphid has the ability to become re sistant to many pesticides and there is growing concern over environme ntal impacts of pesticide use. As a result, manipulation of the agroec osystem will play an ever increasing role in the management of this in sect. Most aspects of the biology of this aphid are covered in this re view. The recurrent theme centers around the importance of host plant influences on the biology of the aphid. In addition to examining the l iterature on the biology of the aphid, a large section is devoted to o rganisms which influence mortality in the aphid, and to aphid borne vi ruses transmitted by this aphid. This review covers the literature fro m 1912 to 1995, but articles on aphid management (e.g. pesticide effic acy, planting date) were omitted except where they deal with the aphid 's biology or ecology. Research on the biology of this aphid has been heavily skewed into several disparate categories. First, research has focused on the influence of host plant and temperature on the reproduc tive rate of this aphid. Second, research has focused on the cause for alate production such as nutritional stress, other nutritional factor s, crowding, and temperature. Third, research has focused on the viral borne pathogens transmitted by this aphid. Three specific cases are h ighlighted: citrus tristeza, cucumber mosaic virus, and the potyviruse s. Last, research has focused on the role of organisms which feed on t his aphid. Due to the complexity of research possible in this area; ve ry little research has explored the effect of these ''beneficial organ isms'' on life history traits of this aphid.