The hypothesis that similar processes govern interannual dynamics of green spruce aphid in the UK and France, is generally supported by the application of a general discrete model. A simple model based on relatively few parameters was able to closely characterise interannual population dynamics from completely independent aerial and arboreal samples of aphids. Long‐term field population estimates of the green spruce aphid Elatobium abietinum (Walker) in France have provided the opportunity to select and evaluate the generality of a model, which was developed in the UK to explain the year‐to‐year variations in peak abundance of the aphid. The objective was to observe the influence of the local climates and disturbing climate factors on the population densities of the insect in two regions of France. The model uses climate variables and aphid population data from regular samples in the two regions that were investigated. A general discrete model was used to predict aphid population densities. The model performed well in tracking the interannual patterns of population but was less likely to predict absolute population density. To improve predictions, further account would need to be taken of additional site‐specific climate variables and the strength of overcompensating density dependence. Nevertheless, it is clear that broadly similar processes are at work in the population dynamics of this insect across its biogeographical range.

中文翻译：

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法国绿色云杉蚜虫Elatobium abietinum（Walker）的年际种群动态

在英国和法国，类似过程控制绿色云杉蚜虫的年际动态的假说通常被通用离散模型的应用所支持。一个基于相对较少参数的简单模型就能够从完全独立的蚜虫的空中和树栖样本中严密表征年际种群动态。绿色云杉蚜虫Elatobium abietinum的长期田间种群估计法国的（Walker）提供了选择和评估模型通用性的机会，该模型是在英国开发的，用于解释蚜虫峰值丰度的逐年变化。目的是观察法国两个地区当地气候和干扰气候因素对昆虫种群密度的影响。该模型使用了来自两个地区的常规样本的气候变量和蚜虫种群数据。一般离散模型用于预测蚜虫种群密度。该模型在跟踪人口的年际格局方面表现良好，但预测绝对人口密度的可能性较小。为了改善预测，还需要进一步考虑特定地点的其他气候变量以及过度补偿密度依赖性的强度。然而，很明显，在昆虫整个生物地理范围内的种群动态中，广泛相似的过程正在起作用。