To avoid predation, prey initiate anti-predator defenses such as altered behavior, physiology and/or morphology. Prey trait changes in response to perceived predation risk can influence several aspects of prey biology that collectively contribute to individual success and thus population growth. However, studies often focus on single trait changes in a discrete life stage or morphotype. We assessed how predation risk by Harmonia axyridis affects several important traits in the aphid, Myzus persicae: host plant preference, fecundity and investment in dispersal. Importantly, we examined whether these traits changed in a similar way between winged (alate) and wingless (apterous) adult aphid morphotypes, which differ in morphology, but also in life-history characteristics important for reproduction and dispersal. Host plant preference was influenced by the presence of H.axyridis odors in choice tests; wingless aphids were deterred by the odor of plants with H.axyridis whereas winged aphids preferred plants with H.axyridis present. Wingless aphids reared in the presence of ladybeetle cues produced fewer offspring in the short-term, but significantly more when reared with exposure to predator cues for multiple generations. However, winged aphid fecundity was unaffected by H.axyridis cues. Lastly, transgenerational plasticity was demonstrated in response to predation risk via increased formation of winged aphid morphotypes in the offspring of predator cue-exposed wingless mothers. Importantly, we found that responses to risk differ across aphid polyphenism and that plasticity in aphid morphology occurs in response to predation risk. Together our results highlight the importance of considering how predation risk affects multiple life stages and morphotypes.

为了避免捕食，猎物会启动反捕食者防御，例如改变行为、生理和/或形态。对感知到的捕食风险做出反应的猎物特征变化会影响猎物生物学的几个方面，这些方面共同促进个体成功，从而促进种群增长。然而，研究通常侧重于离散生命阶段或形态类型中的单一性状变化。我们评估了Harmonia axyridis 的捕食风险如何影响蚜虫Myzus persicae 的几个重要特征: 寄主植物偏好、繁殖力和分散投资。重要的是，我们检查了这些性状在有翅（有翼）和无翅（无翅）成虫形态类型之间是否以类似的方式变化，它们的形态不同，但对繁殖和传播很重要的生活史特征也不同。在选择测试中，寄主植物的偏好受H.axyridis气味的影响；无翅蚜虫被带有H.axyridis的植物的气味吓倒，而有翅蚜虫则更喜欢带有H.axyridis 的植物展示。在瓢虫线索存在下饲养的无翅蚜虫在短期内产生的后代较少，但在多代暴露于捕食者线索的情况下饲养的后代数量明显更多。然而，有翅蚜虫的繁殖力不受H.axyridis线索的影响。最后，通过增加暴露于捕食者线索的无翅母亲的后代有翅蚜虫形态类型的形成，证明了跨代可塑性是对捕食风险的反应。重要的是，我们发现对风险的反应因蚜虫多表性而异，并且蚜虫形态的可塑性是对捕食风险的反应。我们的结果共同强调了考虑捕食风险如何影响多个生命阶段和形态类型的重要性。