Biology of Lipaphis pseudobrassicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) and mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v14i11.50003Keywords:
Aphid, Fertility life table, Integrated Pest Management, Brassicaceae.Abstract
The aphid Lipaphis pseudobrassicae has the potential to become the main aphid pest of Brassicaceae crops in Brazil. Studies on biology and population development are essential to establish management strategies. Due to the scarcity of information, this study evaluated the biological and population development parameters of the insect on kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) and mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern). Nymphs aged 24 hours were maintained on seedlings of both host plants (25 ± 2 °C, RH 60%, photophase 12 h) and monitored every 24 hours until death. The immature stage of L. pseudobrassicae was similar on kale (5.34 days) and mustard (5.64 days), with low nymphal mortality (<16%). Adult aphids showed comparable durations for the pre-reproductive and reproductive periods on both hosts. Adult longevity, total offspring per female, and total life cycle duration were also similar between treatments. No significant differences were found in generation time (T), intrinsic rate of increase (rm), finite rate of increase (λ), net reproductive rate (Ro), or population doubling time (TD). The ability of L. pseudobrassicae to develop on different hosts within the same family highlights its potential to become a key pest of Brassicaceae. This knowledge is essential for guiding integrated pest management strategies aimed at controlling L. pseudobrassicae in Brassicaceae crops and reducing insecticide use.
References
Ahuja, D. B., Ahuja, U. R., Kalyan, R. K., Sharma, Y. K., Dhandapani, A., & Meena, P. C. (2009). Evaluation of different management strategies for Lipaphis pseudobrassicae (Davis) on Brassica juncea. International Journal of Pest Management, 55(1), 11–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/09670870802422580
Andrewartha, H. G., & Birch, L. C. (1954). The innate capacity for increase in numbers. In H. G. Andrewartha & L. C. Birch (Eds.), The distribution and abundance of animals (pp. 31–54). University of Chicago Press.
Aslam, M., Razaq, M., Hussain, S., & Pathan, A. K. (2011). Biology of cabbage aphid under laboratory conditions. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 43(6), 1009–1012.
Bettiol, W., Hamada, E., Angelotti, F., Auad, A. M., & Ghini, R. (2017). Mudanças climáticas e problemas fitossanitários. In Aquecimento global e problemas fitossanitários (pp. 11–16). Embrapa.
Blackman, R. L., & Eastop, V. F. (2000). Aphids on the world’s crops: An identification and information guide (2nd ed., p. 475).
Blackman, R. L., & Eastop, V. F. (2007). Taxonomic issues. In H. F. van Emden & R. Harrington (Eds.), Aphids as crop pests (pp. 1–30). CAB International.
Bridges, M., Jones, A. M. E., Bones, A. M., Hodgson, C., Cole, R., & Bartlet, E. (2002). Spatial organization of the glucosinolate–myrosinase system in brassica specialist aphids is similar to that of the host plant. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 269(1488), 187–191. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2001.1869
Cividanes, F. J. (2002). Tabelas de vida de fertilidade de Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) em condições de campo. Neotropical Entomology, 31(3), 419-427
Cividanes, F. J., & Souza, V. P. (2004). Distribuição vertical de pulgões (Hemiptera: Aphididae) em couve. Arquivos do Instituto Biológico, 71(2), 254–256.
De Fabrizio, V., Trotta, V., Pariti, L., Radice, R. P., & Martelli, G. (2024). Preliminary characterization of biomolecular processes related to plasticity in Acyrthosiphon pisum. Heliyon, 10(1).
Dewar, A. M. (2007). Chemical control. In CABI eBooks (pp. 391–422). https://doi.org/10.1079/9780851998190.0391
Dias de Almeida, G. D., Pratissoli, D., Polanczyk, R. A., Holtz, A. M., & Vicentini, V. B. (2007). Determinação da concentração letal média (CL₅₀) de Beauveria bassiana para o controle de Brevicoryne brassicae. Idesia (Arica), 25(2), 69–72. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-34292007000200009
Dixon, A. F. G. (1987). Parthenogenetic reproduction and rate of increase in aphids. In Minks, A. K., & Harrewijn, P. (Eds.), Aphids: Their biology, natural enemies and control (Vol. 2A, pp. 269–287). Elsevier.
Fening, K. O., Forchibe, E. E., Wamonje, F. O., Adama, I., Afreh-Nuamah, K., & Carr, J. P. (2020). First report and distribution of the Indian mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi pseudobrassicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) in Ghana. Journal of Economic Entomology, 113(3), 1362–1372. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toaa057
Filgueira, F. A. R. (2000). Novo manual de olericultura: Agrotecnologia moderna na produção e comercialização de hortaliças (p. 402). UFV.
Fortuna, L. S. (2019). A interação Spiroplasma – Lipaphis pseudobrassicae Davis (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Dissertação de mestrado Efeito na biologia e utilização de plantas hospedeiras. Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz”.
Gallo, D., Nakano, O., Silveira Neto, S., Carvalho, R. P. L., Baptista, G. C., Berti Filho, E., Parra, J. R. P., Zucchi, R. A., Alves, S. B., Vendramin, J. D., Marchini, L. C., Lopes, J. R. S., & Omoto, C. (2002). Entomologia agrícola. FEALQ.
Goulart, L. S., Cardoso, F. K., Souza, L. M., Stein, E. A., Faita, M. R., & Poltronieri, A. S. (2023). Biology and life table of Brevicoryne brassicae and Lipaphis pseudobrassicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Brassica oleracea var. acephala. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 11(5C), 172–177. https://doi.org/10.22271/j.ento.2023.v11.i5c.9245
Holtz, A. M., Rondelli, V. M., Celestino, F. N., Bestete, L. R., & Carvalho, J. R. (Eds.). (2015). Pragas das brássicas (1ª ed.). Instituto Federal do Espírito Santo (IFES).
Hubaide, J. E. A. (2011). Dissertação de mestrado: Distribuição na planta, fatores climáticos e parasitismo na dinâmica populacional de pulgões (Hemiptera: Aphididae) em couve.
Husebye, H., Arzt, S., Burmeister, W. P., Haertel, F. V., Brandt, A., Rossiter, J. T., & Bones, A. M. (2005). Crystal structure at 1.1 Å resolution of an insect myrosinase from Brevicoryne brassicae shows its close relationship to β-glucosidases. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 35, 1311–1320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibmb.2005.07.004
Jahan, F., Abbasipour, H., Askarianzadeh, A., Hassanshahi, G., & Saeedizadeh, A. (2014). Biology and life table parameters of Brevicoryne brassicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on cauliflower cultivars. Journal of insect science (Online), 14, 284. https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieu146
Jones, A. M. E., Winge, P., Bones, A. M., Cole, R., & Rossiter, J. T. (2002). Characterization and evolution of a myrosinase from the cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 32(3), 275–284. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0965-1748(01)00088-1
Kazana, E., Pope, T. W., Tibbles, L., Bridges, M., Pickett, J. A., Bones, A. M., Powell, G., & Rossiter, J. T. (2007). The cabbage aphid: A walking mustard oil bomb. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 274(1622), 2271–2277. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2007.0237
Kindlmann, P., & Dixon, A. F. G. (1989). Developmental constraints in the evolution of reproductive strategies: telescoping of generations in parthenogenetic aphids. Functional Ecology, 531-537.
King, C., Jacob, H. S., & Berlandier, F. (2006). The influence of water deficiency on the relationship between canola (Brassica napus L.) and two aphid species (Lipaphis erysimi and Brevicoryne brassicae). Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 57(4), 439–445.
Lazzari, S. M. N., & Zonta-de-Carvalho, R. C. (2009). Sugadores de seiva (Aphidoidea). In Panizzi, A. R. & Parra J. R. P. (Eds.), Bioecologia e nutrição de insetos: Base para o manejo integrado de pragas (pp. 421–446). Embrapa.
Loxdale, H. D., & Balog, A. (2018). Aphid specialism as an example of ecological–evolutionary divergence. Biological Reviews, 93(1), 642-657.
Meyer, J. S., Ingersoll, C. G., McDonald, L. L., & Boyce, M. S. (1986). Estimating uncertainty in population growth rates: Jackknife vs. bootstrap techniques. Ecology, 67(5), 1156–1166. https://doi.org/10.2307/1938671
Moura, A. P., Guimarães, J. A., Silva, J., Guedes, Í. M. R., & Leal, D. C. P. (2019). Recomendações técnicas para o manejo de pragas em brassicáceas com vistas à Produção Integrada de Hortaliças Folhosas (Documento, 170). Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária, Embrapa Hortaliças, Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento.
Mussury, R. M., & Fernandes, W. D. (2002). Occurrence of Diaeretiella rapae (McIntosh, 1855) (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) parasitising Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach, 1843) and Brevicoryne brassicae (L. 1758) (Homoptera: Aphididae) in Brassica napus in Mato Grosso do Sul. Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, 45(1), 41–46.
Oliveira, R. S., Sampaio, M. V., Ferreira, S. E., Ribeiro, L. C. M., & Tannús-Neto, J. (2013). Low parasitism by Diaeretiella rapae (Hym.: Braconidae) of Lipaphis pseudobrassicae (Hemip.: Aphididae): Pre- or post-ovipositional host resistance? Biocontrol Science and Technology, 23(1), 79–91. https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2012.736473
Pacheco, J. C., Poltronieri, A. S., Porsani, M. V., Zawadneak, M. A. C., & Pimentel, I. C. (2017). Entomopathogenic potential of fungi isolated from intertidal environments against the cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Biocontrol Science and Technology, 27(4), 496–509. https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2017.1315053
Pena-Martínez, R. (1992). Áfidos como vectores de virus en México. Centro de Fitopatología(p. 135).
Penteado, S. R. C., Oliveira, E. B., & Lazzari, S. M. N. (2010). TabVida: Sistema computacional para cálculo de parâmetros biológicos e de crescimento de populações de afídeos. Embrapa Florestas.
Pontoppidan, P., Ekbom, B., Eriksson, S., & Meijer, J. (2001). Purification and characterization of myrosinase from the cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae), a brassica herbivore. European Journal of Biochemistry, 268, 1041–1048. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1432-1327.2001.01971.x
Rabasse, J. M., & van Steenis, M. J. (1999). Biological control of aphids. In R. Albajes, M. L. Gullino, J. C. van Lenteren, & Y. Elad (Eds.), Integrated pest and disease management in greenhouse crops (pp. 235–243). Springer.
Rana, J. S. (2005). Performance of Lipaphis erysimi (Homoptera: Aphididae) on different Brassica species in a tropical environment. Journal of Pest Science, 78(3). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-005-0088-3
Remaudière, G., & Remaudiere, M. (1997). Catalogue of the world's Aphididae: Homoptera Aphidoidea (pp. 473-pp).
Resende, A. L. S., Silva, E. E., Silva, V. B., Ribeiro, R. L. D., Guerra, J. G. M., & Aguiar-Menezes, E. L. (2006). Primeiro registro de Lipaphis pseudobrassicae Davis (Hemiptera: Aphididae) e sua associação com insetos predadores, parasitóides e formigas em couve (Cruciferae) no Brasil. Neotropical Entomology, 35(4), 551–555. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1519-566x2006000400019
Rondelli, V. M., Minas, R. S., Rocha, L. I. R., Oliveira, C. M. R., & Bestete, L. R. (2013). Pulgões (Myzus persicae e Macrosiphum euphorbiae). In Minas. R. S.; Rondelli. V. M.; Melo. D. F.; Oliveira. C. M. R.; & Bestete L. R. (Eds.), Solanáceas: Abordagem das principais culturas e suas pragas (pp. 81–108). Kiron.
Sousa-Silva, C. R., & Ilharco, F. A. (1995). Afídeos do Brasil e suas plantas hospedeiras: Lista preliminar (p. 85). EDUFSCar.
Taghizadeh, R. (2019). Comparative life table of mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on canola cultivars. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 21(3), 543–551.
Tsai, J. H., & Wang, J. J. (2001). Effects of host plants on biology and life table parameters of Aphis spiraecola (Homoptera: Aphididae). Environmental Entomology, 30, 44–50. https://doi.org/10.1603/0046-225X-30.1.44
Van Emden, H. F. (2013). Handbook of agricultural entomology (p. 311). Wiley-Blackwell.
Yadav, S., & Rathee, M. (2020). Sucking pests of rapeseed–mustard. In Sucking pests of crops (pp. 187–232).
Yue, B., & Liu, T. X. (2000). Host selection, development, survival, and reproduction of turnip aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae) on green and red cabbage varieties. Journal of Economic Entomology.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Bruno Pavan Alexandre, Alex Sandro Poltronieri

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
1) Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
2) Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
3) Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
