1College of Plant Science and Technology，Huazhong Agricultural University，Wuhan 430070，Hubei，China；2Institute of Vegetables，Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Sciences，Wuhan 430345，Hubei，China
Abstract：In order to definite the overwinter host species of Rhopalosiphum nymphaeae and its adaptibility，this study investigated the overwinter host species of R. nymphaeae（L.）and amount of overwinter insects in Wuhan and Honghu region，Hubei Province．This paper also studied the adaptability of R. nymphaeae on different hosts by life table technique．Investigation revealed that the major overwinter host of R. nymphaeae in Wuhan and Honghu was the purple leaf plum tree（Prunus cerasifera L.），accounting for nearly 80% of the total overwinter insect population．The overwinter R. nymphaeae on purple leaf plum
tree had the best adaptability on water chestnuts（Trapa bispinosa Roxb.），followed by lotus，（Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.）and water lily（Nymphaea tetragona Georgi.）．It was impossible to establish population on arrowhead（Sagittaria sagittifolia L.）. While，the R. nymphaeae collected from water chestnut and water lily all could well adapt to lotus，water lily，water chestnut and arrowhead，indicating that the source of overwinter insects on purple leaf plum tree could directly migrate to the lotus fields and indirectly transfer to the lotus fields via water chestnut or water lily．Therefore，we suggest to limit planting of purple leaf plum tree around the lotus fields，or taking centralized prevention and control measures before the migration of overwinter insect on purple leaf plum tree，so as to reduce the initial population of R. nymphaeae．
