Macrosiphum euphorbiae

Definition

A holocyclic aphid species in the family Aphididae, commonly known as the potato aphid. It is a polyphagous pest of Solanaceae and numerous other crop families, transmitting plant viruses including potato virus Y and potato leafroll virus. The species exhibits typical aphidid polymorphism with both winged (alate) and wingless (apterous) morphs, and alternates between primary woody hosts (Rosa spp.) and secondary herbaceous hosts.

Etymology

Genus from Greek macros (large) + siphon (tube), referring to the elongated siphunculi; species epithet from Euphorbia, a host plant genus.

Example

Macrosiphum euphorbiae colonies on greenhouse tomatoes often require integrated pest management combining parasitoid wasps (Aphidius ervi) and selective insecticides to prevent virus transmission.

Synonyms

• Potato aphid

Related Terms

• Macrosiphum
• Aphididae
• holocyclic
• Alate
• Apterous
• siphunculus
• potato virus Y
• Vector
• polyphagy

Usage Notes

Distinguished from the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) by longer siphunculi and more pronounced abdominal tubercles. The name is sometimes misspelled 'Macrosiphum euphorbiae' in older literature; authority is (Thomas, 1878). Some sources list Macrosiphum centranthi and Macrosiphum stellariae as synonyms or closely related taxa.