Correlated Responses of Life History Traits, Wing Length, and Flight Propensity to Wing-Form Selection in the Whitebacked Planthopper, Sogatella furcifera (HORVATH) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)

Abstract

Different wing-forms (brachypters and macropters) of the whitebacked planthopper, Sogatella furcifera, were selected for 12 generations and correlated responses of several life history traits, wing length, and flight propensity to this selection were examined. A positively correlated response to wing-form selection was observed in nymphal developmental time, but no consistent response was observed in either fecundity or adult longevity. a significant reduction in forewing length was detected in response to selection for brachyptery. The flight propensity of macropters in the brachypterous line measured by the flight mill technique was significantly lower than that recorded in the control line. These results suggest that selection for brachypetery not only influences the incidence of brachypters but also acts to decrease the forewing length and flight propensity of macropterous individuals of the brachypterous line.