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1. Global warming is occurring at an unprecedented rate. Information about how variable temperature affects insect life-history traits is still scarce. 2. The current study first evaluated the effects of two variable-temperature treatments [high-temperature-variation (HT) treatments and mild-temperature-variation (MT) treatments] on the life-history traits of a maternal generation (F-0) of Rhopalosiphum padi, a serious global pest, using a constant normal-temperature (NT) treatment as a control. Following this, the life-history traits of the offspring generation (F-1) under the NT, MT and HT scenarios were analysed. 3. The total developmental duration of the aphid F-0 generation was significantly shortened by MT treatments, while it was significantly increased by HT treatments. Adult longevity and the fecundity of F-0 were significantly decreased by HT treatments compared with those in the MT and NT treatments, whereas no significant difference was found between the latter two treatments. The HT treatments applied to the F-0 generation significantly prolonged the total developmental duration of the F-1 generation. The offspring adult longevity was not affected by the mothers' temperature experience. The offspring fecundity was significantly increased when the F-0 generation experienced MT treatments. The intrinsic rate of increase (r(m)) was significantly decreased when the F-0 generation experienced an HT scenario. However, the MT scenario experienced by the F-0 generation did not significantly affect the r(m) of their offspring. 4. The results will provide new insights into the effects of variable maternal temperature on the individual development and population dynamics of offspring under a global warming scenario.