back to HYPP Zoology home page


.
Aphis gossypii Glover
Cerosipha gossypii

Insecta, Homoptera, Aphididae .

Cotton aphid, Melon aphid, Melon and cotton aphid

Description, Biology, Life Cycle, Damage, Common Names, Images

[R]Description
- Adult: wingedvirginiparous; head, thorax and siphunculi are black, the abdomen of a variable colour: about 2mm long.
Wingless virginiparous: body of variable colour, often yellowish-green, sometimes blackish, with a waxy bloom; black siphunculi.
- Nymph: variable size, considerably smaller than adult forms with differing coloration, from pale yellow to pale green (*) (*) .

[R]Biology
This highly polyphagous species shows a prediliction for Cucurbitaceae and Malvaceae (cotton, mallow, hibiscus). It also attacks Citrus.
Among cultivated vegetables, damage is particularly marked in courgette, melon, cucumber, aubergine and strawberry.
In temperate countries such as Italy, this aphid always reproduces parthenogenetically.
In the United States, this species may be holocyclic, its primary host being Catalpa, Rhamnus or Hibiscus.

[R]Life Cycle
- With good resistance to summer heat, this aphid may produce nearly sixty generations a year.
- It has a mutually beneficial relationship with ants (ants making use of the honeydew from the aphids which, in return, are protected from their enemies).

[R]Damage
Damage (*) is caused by the sucking of sap and the production of honeydew. The indirect attraction it exerts upon ants constitutes an additional problem.
This aphid is considered as a vector among others, of the Tristeza citrus fruit virus.

[R]Remark/A>
Found worldwide. In Africa, it is one of the major pests affecting the agricultural economy.
In northern Europe, it survives and increases only in glasshouses.

[R]Common Names
DE: Gurkenblattlaus ES: Pulgón del algodonero FR: Puceron du cotonnier, Puceron du melon IT: Afide delle malvacee e delle cucurbitacee PT: Piolho do algodão GB: Cotton aphid, Melon aphid, Melon and cotton aphid

[R] Images

  1. Aphis gossypii Glover (Rabasse J.-M. / INRA Antibes)
    Colony on leaf of cucumber
  2. Aphis gossypii Glover (INRA Versailles)
    Adult and nymphs Underside of leaf of cucumber.
    .
  3. Aphis gossypii Glover (BASF)
    Colony on leaf of cotton
  4. Aphis gossypii Glover (BASF)
    Damage to young plants of cotton

To read this page in French

HYPPZ on line : Species (scientific name), Pests (common names), Glossary, Crops.

back to HYPP Zoology home page