Deme formation in gall‐making aphids Adelges japonicus (Homoptera: Adelgidae)

Abstract The deme formation hypothesis in herbivorous insects states that herbivores differentiate genetically into small demes, each specialized in the idiosyncratic traits of individual plants. We examined this hypothesis in gall‐forming aphids, Adelges japonicus , by reciprocal transfers of aphids among three susceptible clones of Picea jezoensis standing in proximity. Performance of aphids transferred to their natal clone was compared with that of aphids transferred to other novel clones. ANCOVA showed no significant donor (source of aphids) by receptor (recipient of aphids) interactions for both total aphid performance on the host tree over a life cycle and its three subdivisions (q 1 , q 2 and q 3 ). In addition, the total performance on the natal clone was lowest among those in the three clones, which was explicitly against the prediction from the local adaptation. In contrast, there were significant receptor effects on q 1 (fecundity of gallicolae multiplied by survivorship of fundatrices while feeding on needles) and q 3 (fecundity of fundatrices multiplied by survivorship of gallicolae before emergence from the galls), suggesting genetic differences in resistance among clones. The two‐fold difference in q 3 among clones was due to different gall size, which was highly correlated with the number of gallicolae that emerged from the gall. The two‐fold difference in q 1 seemed to be caused by different survivorship of larval fundatrices while feeding on needles.