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Insecta, Homoptera, Aphididae .
Description, Biology, Life Cycle, Damage, Common Names, Images
[R]Biology
A heteroecious species with Plum and various Prunus as primary hosts and, in glasshouses, Chrysanthemum and silver ragwort (Senecio). Secondary hosts include Compositae (sunflower, artichoke), Borraginaceae (forget-me-not) and Leguminoseae (clover).
- Winter eggs are deposited at the base of buds and on young branches of various species of Prunus. They hatch when growth of the vegetation starts again and aphids infest the underside of leaves.
3-5 generations of fundatrigeniae may occur on the primary host. Winged forms emerge in late April-early May and migrate to secondary hosts. In autumn, alatae appear and, after returning to primary host-plants, give birth to oviparous females. Males born on the secondary hosts migrate and the sexual generation is produced.
[R]Life Cycle
- A usually holocyclic species; certain populations occurring on secondary hosts in regions with mild winters however anholocyclic and producing virginoparae throughout the winter. Alatae produced in February-March leave early, as soon as climatic conditions are favourable.
[R]Damage
- Fundatrices and their offspring cause severe curling of the foliage of Plum (*) .
- Aphids occur on curled leaves of sunflower, afterwards moving to the flower heads and forming dense colonies between the seeds. Bracts on artichoke become red and harden.
- This aphid is also a vector of the plum pox virus (PPV).
HYPPZ on line : Species (scientific name), Pests (common names), Glossary, Crops.
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