Intergenerational Sublethal Effects of Flonicamid on Cotton Aphid, Aphis gossypii: An Age-Stage, Two-Sex Life Table Study

Aphis gossypii Glover is an economically important sap-sucking insect pest that causes severe damage worldwide. The flonicamid has been widely used for controlling sap-sucking insect pests, but its intergenerational sublethal effects on key demographic parameters of A. gossypii have not been fully studied. The age-stage, two-sex life table analysis was conducted to investigate the sublethal effects of flonicamid on the biological parameters of adult A. gossypii (F-0) and its subsequent intergenerational effects on the offspring (F-1 generation). The results showed that the sublethal concentrations of flonicamid significantly decreased the longevity, fecundity, and reproductive days of F-0 A. gossypii. Moreover, flonicamid induced intergenerational sublethal effects on the subsequent progeny generation (F-1) by impacting the key biological and demographic parameters of A. gossypii. Taken together, these results demonstrated that sublethal concentrations of flonicamid negatively affect the demographic parameters of A. gossypii, resulting in the suppression of population growth. Flonicamid is a novel systemic insecticide widely used against aphids. However, the intergenerational sublethal effects of flonicamid on cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii, have not been fully studied. This study aimed to evaluate the sublethal effects of flonicamid on the biological parameters of adult A. gossypii (F-0) and its subsequent intergenerational effects on the offspring (F-1 generation) through age-stage, two-sex life table analysis. The results of the bioassays indicate that flonicamid exhibits significant toxicity toward adult A. gossypii, as evidenced by an LC50 value of 0.372 mg L-1 after a 48-h exposure period. The longevity, fecundity, and reproductive days of adult cotton aphids (F-0) were significantly decreased when treated with the sublethal concentrations of flonicamid. The pre-adult stage exhibited an increase, whereas the adult longevity, total longevity, and fecundity experienced a notable decrease in F-1 aphids after the exposure of F-0 aphids to sublethal concentrations of flonicamid. Furthermore, the key demographic parameters, including r, lambda, R-0, and RPd, showed a significant decrease, while the total pre-reproductive period (TPRP) experienced a significant increase in the F-1 generation. Collectively, our findings indicate that sublethal concentrations of flonicamid impact the demographic parameters of A. gossypii, resulting in suppression of population growth. This study presents comprehensive information on the overall impact of flonicamid on A. gossypii, which could potentially aid in managing this major pest.