Demographic parameters of the melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hom.: Aphididae) by its rearing on cucumber under laboratory conditions.

In order to determine demographic parameters of the melon aphid, 20 wingless adults were reared separately in 10×60 mm leaf cage on cucumber leaves in a growth chamber at 262˚C, R.H. of 655% and a photoperiod of 16L:8D. The highest life expectancy (ex) value was 12.8 days in early emergence and the lowest was 1 day during 21 days of adults life. Intrinsic rate of increase (rm) and net reproductive rate (Ro) values were 0.471 and 49.256, respectively. The mean generation time (T) was 8.27 days and the population of aphid was doubled (DT) within 1.47 days. Female aphids were able to multiply 27.03 times per week (rw). Adult longevity was 13.8±1.09 days and mean number of offspring produced per female was 49.05±2.32 and mean number of females per female per day (mx) was 3.22±0.59.