Chronic mercury vapor poisoning of aphids

Summary Exposure of green peach aphids,Myzus persicae (Sulz.), to an atmosphere containing mercury vapor resulted in a curtailment ofembryogenesis and larviposition by adults, and in the development by larvae and adults of a cuticular darkening of their legs, head capsule, antennae, cornicles and cauda. Mortality of affected larvae resulted from molting difficulties, particularly by last-instar alatiform female and male larvae. Greenbugs,Schizaphis graminum (Rond.), and pea aphids,Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harr.), responded to mercury vapor exposure in similar ways.