A comparative life-table analysis of sipha flava (hemiptera: Aphididae) on two biofuel hosts, miscanthus × giganteus and saccharum spp.

Among the insects reported in biofuel crops, the yellow sugarcane aphid, Sipha flava (Forbes), is a potential pest of giant miscanthus, Miscanthus × giganteus Greef et Deu ex Hodkinson et Renvoize (M×g) and energy cane "L79-1002", Saccharum spp. L. We studied the biology of S. flava on M×g and energy cane and estimated the development period, fecundity, longevity, intrinsic rate of increase, doubling time, reproductive value, and survivorship curves. To demonstrate the host suitability in a susceptible species, we studied the aphid life table on sorghum 'PL 18200,' Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. Life-table information was recorded under greenhouse conditions on the host plants. Our results suggested that both M×g and energy cane are suitable hosts for S. flava. We observed similar aphid development period on both hosts. Life-table estimates including longevity and fecundity suggested that M×g is a more suitable host for the aphid than energy cane. The intrinsic rate of increase for S. flava was lower on energy cane (0.231) than on M×g (0.258).