Family Aphididae - Aphids

taxonomy on BG follows Aphid Species File(1). Tree of Life treats a number of the subfamilies as families.

1351 spp. in 224 genera (w/40 subgenera) in our area, of which ~80 spp. are pests of food crops and ornamental plants(2) and over 260 spp. are adventive(3)

Overview of our fauna (* –taxa not yet in the guide):

Family APHIDIDAE

Subfamily Anoeciinae Anoecia

Subfamily Aphidinae

Tribe Macrosiphini Abstrusomyzus, *Acuticauda, Acyrthosiphon, *Alphitoaphis, *Amphicercidus, Amphorophora, *Anthracosiphon, Aphthargelia, *Artemisaphis, *Aspidaphis, *Aspidophorodon, *Atarsos, Aulacorthum, *Bipersona, Brachycaudus, *Brachycolus, *Brachycorynella, Brevicoryne, *Cachryphora, Capitophorus, Carolinaia, Catamergus, Cavariella, Cedoaphis, Ceruraphis, Chaetosiphon, *Coloradoa, Corylobium, *Cryptaphis, *Cryptomyzus, *Decorosiphon, *Delphiniobium, *Diuraphis, *Durocapillata, *Dysaphis, *Elatobium, *Eomacrosiphon, *Epameibaphis, Ericaphis, Eucarazzia, *Flabellomicrosiphum, *Glendenningia, Gypsoaphis, Hayhurstia, Hyadaphis, *Hyalomyzus, *Hyalopteroides, Hyperomyzus, *Idiopterus, Illinoia, *Jacksonia, *Landisaphis, *Linosiphon, Liosomaphis, *Lipamyzodes, Lipaphis, Longicaudus, *Macchiatiella, Macrosiphoniella, Macrosiphum, *Mastopoda, *Megoura, *Megourina, Metopolophium, *Microlophium, *Microparsus, Microsiphoniella, *Muscaphis, Myzaphis, *Myzodium, Myzus, Nasonovia, Nearctaphis, *Neoamphorophora, *Neotoxoptera, Obtusicauda, *Ovatus, *Papulaphis, *Pentalonia, *Pentamyzus, Phorodon, Pleotrichophorus, *Pseudacaudella, *Pseudocercidis, Pseudoepameibaphis, *Rhodobium, *Rhopalosiphoninus, Rhopalomyzus, *Semiaphis, *Sinomegoura, Sitobion, *Subacyrthosiphon, *Titanosiphon, Uroleucon, *Utamphorophora, *Vesiculaphis, Wahlgreniella

Tribe Aphidini

Subfamily Calaphidinae

Tribe Calaphidini Betulaphis, *Boernerina, Calaphis, Callipterinella, *Cepegillettea, Euceraphis, *Oestlundiella, *Symydobius

Tribe Panaphidini

Subfamily Chaitophorinae

Tribe Chaitophorini Chaitophorus, Periphyllus, *Pseudopterocomma

Tribe Siphini *Atheroides, Sipha

Subfamily Drepanosiphinae Drepanaphis, Drepanosiphum

Subfamily Eriosomatinae

Tribe Eriosomatini *Byrsocryptoides, Colopha, Eriosoma, Kaltenbachiella, *Paracolopha, *Schizoneurata, Tetraneura

Tribe Fordini *Aloephagus, Forda, *Geoica, *Geopemphigus, Melaphis, *Smynthurodes

Tribe Pemphigini *Clydesmithia, *Cornaphis, Grylloprociphilus, *Mordvilkoja, Neoprociphilus, Pachypappa, Pemphigus, Prociphilus, *Thecabius, *Tiliphagus

Subfamily *Greenideinae

Tribe *Schoutedeniini *Schoutedenia

Subfamily Hormaphidinae

Tribe Cerataphidini Cerataphis, *Pseudoregma

Tribe Hormaphidini Hamamelistes, Hormaphis

Tribe *Nipponaphidini *Atarsaphis, *Euthoracaphis

Subfamily Lachninae

Tribe Eulachnini Cinara, Essigella, Eulachnus, *Schizolachnus

Tribe Lachnini *Lachnus, Longistigma, Maculolachnus, Tuberolachnus

Tribe Tramini Trama

Subfamily Mindarinae Mindarus

Subfamily Neophyllaphidinae Neophyllaphis

Subfamily *Phloeomyzinae *Phloeomyzus

Subfamily Phyllaphidinae *Diphyllaphis, Phyllaphis, *Stegophylla

Subfamily Pterocommatinae *Fullawaya, *Paducia, Pterocomma

Subfamily Saltusaphidinae

Tribe *Saltusaphidini *Iziphya, *Saltusaphis, *Subiziphya

Tribe Thripsaphidini *Allaphis, *Subsaltusaphis, Thripsaphis

Subfamily Tamaliinae Tamalia

Subfamily *Thelaxinae

Tribe *Thelaxini *Glyphina, *Thelaxes

Aphids may be identified by two tubelike projections on the posterior, called cornicles or siphunculi. These appear to function as a means of chemical defense, emitting pheromones to alert other aphids about a predator nearby. They also offer mechanical protection, as the fluid emitted can gum up the mouthparts of the predators. Species may sometimes be identified by the host plant, but several aphid spp. may infest the same host. An attempt to organize aphid images by host plant is underway here.

For host plant info see(4)

Aphids suck juices from plants and may be quite damaging. Some are restricted to a single plant species or group of related plants. Others may alternate between two entirely unrelated host plants as a necessary part of their life cycle (e.g. Dysaphis plantaginea begins the year on apple, then migrates to narrow-leaved plantain for several generations before winged adults return to apple trees where they produce eggs that will overwinter).

Over-wintering eggs hatch in the spring into wingless females. These wingless females are parthenogenetic (reproduce without fertilization) and hold eggs in their bodies to give birth to living young. Their offspring are similar to the females, but some develop wings. Near autumn male and female wingless forms are born. These mate and the females lay fertilized overwintering eggs. Males can be winged or wingless; parthenogenetic females are usually wingless. In warm climates, living young may be produced continually (adapted from U. of Georgia website).

live birth:

Feeding aphids excrete a sugar-rich liquid known as honeydew, often consumed by ants who are known to tend aphid colonies and protect them from predators in exchange. Ants are herding aphids and "milk" them by stroking. Some ant species move aphids from one plant to another when the food supply is insufficient, or even take aphid eggs into their nests to help them overwinter.

Predators of aphids include (left to right, below) lacewing larvae, ladybird beetles and larvae, harvester butterfly caterpillars, and the syrphid fly larvae.

Aphids are also attacked by parasitic wasps, which lay eggs inside them. Parasitized aphids swell, become lighter in color and are eventually killed by the developing wasp inside. These are referred to as "aphid mummies."

(6)

Les pucerons du Quebec. in French