We studied the development of Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in three cultivars of the herbaceous cotton plant: CNPA Precoce 1, CNPA Precoce 2 and CNPA 7 H. Cotton plants 20-cm high, maintained individually in caged pots, were infested with 20 adult aphids. We recorded the number of aphids in each plant of the three cultivars 15, 30 and 45 days after the infestation. Significant differences were found in the mean number of aphid between the cultivar CNPA Precoce 2 and the other cultivars. No significant difference was registered between the cultivars concerning to the vertical distribution of aphids on the plant, except at 45 days after infestation, when the cultivar CNPA Precoce 2 presented higher density of aphids in the medium region in the comparison with the basal region.
Insecta; aphid; insect-plant interaction; preference