Aphids

Photos by Robert Spencer

Range of different species within the family Aphididae

Crops Affected: wide range of crops affected, depending on the species of aphid

Life Cycle:

  • Small, soft bodied insects in a range of colours, differing somewhat in shape and other features (described below)
    • Colours can depend on the species, the host and other factors
    • Distinctive features include body shape, length of antennae and/or legs, cornicle shape/length, caudal shape/size, antennal tubercle shape/orientation, colouration of cornicles, body and joints
  • Adults may be winged, but are most often wingless
  • The vast majority of aphids are female (males are occasionally produced at some stages)
  • Aphids give birth to live young (up to 100 per female) over a 2-3 week period
  • There is a short time to maturity (7-10 days), resulting in rapid population increases
  • Aphids are sap-feeders (pierce and suck)
  • Can vector/transmit various viruses depending on species
    • Viruses can include Potato Leaf Roll Virus, Potato Virus Y, Potato Virus A, Cucumber Mosaic Virus, etc.

Symptoms:

  • Vary depending on species
  • Presence of sticky exudate (from feeding) results in sooty mould development
  • Some plant deformation can occur depending on species and population density

Monitoring:

  • Monitor for insect presence, as well as symptomatic tissues
  • Identification of species can allow improved selection of targeted controls (chemical, biological)

Management:

  • Range of management options are available for use, including chemical and biological controls

Diagram of aphid adult – body parts labelled

– NOTE: parts are drawn in general form, not specifically or to scale; some parts are shown singly, but occur in pairs (e.g. wings, antennae, legs, etc)

Different appearances of Aphid body parts

Description / Distinctive Features of Various Aphid Species
Common Name Latin Name Colour Body Form Antennal Tubercles Cornicles Cauda Other Feature(s)
Green Peach Aphid Myzus persicae Light yellow-green to pink Egg / teardrop-shaped Inward pointing Unevenly swollen Short Leg & cornicles same colour as body; antenna long or longer than body
Potato Aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae Yellow-green or pink Elongate / wedge-shaped Pointed outward Long, slender Long & pointed Highly mobile; long legs
Buckthorn Aphid Aphis nasturtii Lemon-yellow to green Small, flat; egg-shaped None Short Short Antennae shorter than body; one of smallest aphids
Foxglove Aphid Aulacorthum solani Light yellow-green to dark green or brownish Pear-shaped Straight sided Tapered with dark tips Short Legs & antennae with dark joints; antennae long or longer than body
Melon (Cotton) Aphid Aphis gossypii Black / green; lighter in dense colonies Small, globular Not prominent; slightly divergent Short, black Short; 6 hairs Black marks on back of abdomen
Pea Aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum Light to dark green Pear-shaped Divergent (outward pointing) Long & Slender Well-developed Long, slim legs, antennae, cornicles; narrow dark bands at segments of antennae
Asparagus Aphid Brachycorynella aspargi Green Elliptical; egg-shaped Lacking; nearly flat head Small, mammiform Moderately-long & parallel-sided Covered with mealy-grey wax; very short antennae
Black Bean Aphid Aphis fabae Dull black to dark green Elliptical; bulbous Slightly divergent; nearly flat head Black & short, tapering to end 10+ hairs (setae) Legs & antennae = light yellow; antennae are ½ length of body
Cabbage Aphid Brevicoryne brassicae Dusky grey-green with dark bands Elliptical Lacking; nearly flat head Dark but paler at the base; short Short, conical Mealy grey-white wax; dark antennae & appendages paler at the base of each segment
Lettuce Aphid Nasonovia ribisnigri Olive green to orange to pink Egg-shaped Not strongly converging (inward pointing) Cylindrical with distinctive ring-like incision Finger-shaped with 7 hair-like setae Long antennae; distinct dorsal pattern on body; dark at joints
Bulb & Potato Aphid Rhopalosiphoninus latysiphon Shiny, dark or olive-green Egg-shaped Straight-sided Shiny black & swollen Moderately long & pointed
Crescent-marked Lily Aphid Aulacorthum circumflexum Shiny, white to bright green Globular Straight-sided Short Medium & conical Horseshoe or crescent-shaped patch on back of abdomen
Woolly Elm Aphid Eriosoma americanum Light-grey to blue Pear-shaped Colony on Elm causes leaves to roll in from edges
Woolly Apple Aphid Eriosoma lanigerum Light- grey to blue Oval to egg-shaped None Lacking Almost lacking; fused Surrounded by white waxy secretions

Note: Not all species may appear on all specific host crops in Alberta (indoors/outdoors) – use as a general guideline

For detailed descriptions of body features characteristics of different species, see the following website – http://aphid.aphidnet.org/index.php

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