Aphid - Myzocallis tuberculata

Moved

Moved from Aphids.

… Natalie Hernandez, 27 October, 2017 - 5:13pm

Confusing one.

So I have discovered there is a genus, Tuberculatus, that often has those dorsal tubercles (the spikey things on the back) but there is a species, Myzocallis tuberculata, which has dorsal tubercles as well, and loves feeding on oak. I think this is M. tuberculata but I have yet to find a good reference for that species.

… Natalie Hernandez, 10 November, 2015 - 3:48pm

Thanks Natalie

Lots of oak in the area, a wide variety but it does look a lot like this one IDed by Andrew Jensen as Tuberculatus-

… John Rosenfeld, 10 November, 2015 - 4:05pm

Yeah I'm not sure that one is IDed correctly.

I hate IDing aphids from pictures, but "looks like" is not even close to reliable in aphids. Tuberculatus tend to have very big tubercles in a specific pattern, and as far as I understand from references they also have dorsal tubercles on the abdomen, which is why I think this one is Myzocallis tuberculata.

See, this is Tuberculatus:

… Natalie Hernandez, 10 November, 2015 - 4:09pm

I just noticed the photo of Myzocallis punctatus

in Marshal's book (1) (the one used to ID the Myzocallis punctatus posted here) and I think you must be right. It has the same unusual pits on the sides of the abdomen and other similar traits that would reinforce your assumption.

… John Rosenfeld, 15 November, 2015 - 2:26pm

Another aphid expert agreed.

Dr. David Voegtlin said he thinks Myzocallis as well, and I haven't heard back from the person who IDed that other image.

… Natalie Hernandez, 15 November, 2015 - 4:50pm

Understood :-)

I have those here also. I'll see if I can narrow down the host next season.

… John Rosenfeld, 10 November, 2015 - 4:44pm

I asked for clarification

If he's positive it is Tuberculatus, then great, he knows his stuff.

… Natalie Hernandez, 10 November, 2015 - 5:32pm