Apple Aphid
Aphis pomi
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Hemiptera
- Suborder: Sternorrhyncha
- Superfamily: Aphidoidea
- Family: Aphididae
- Subfamily: Aphidinae
- Tribe: Aphidini
- Subtribe: Aphidina
- Genus: Aphis
- Species: pomi
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Aphis pomi: //ˈeɪfɪs ˈpoʊmaɪ//
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Images


![Snodgrass Aphis pomi D cropped white background by R. E. Snodgrass. [2]. Used under a CC0 license.](https://bugswithmike.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wikipedia/arthropoda/hexapoda/insecta/hemiptera/sternorrhyncha/aphidoidea/aphididae/aphidinae/aphidini/aphidina/aphis/pomi/Snodgrass_Aphis_pomi_D_cropped_white_background_thumbnail.jpg)



Summary
Aphis pomi, known as the apple aphid or green apple aphid, is a true bug prevalent on young growth of apple trees and other Rosaceae. It reproduces mainly by parthenogenesis and is attended by ants that protect it from predators.
Physical Characteristics
Wingless females are pear-shaped, bright green or yellowish-green, undusted with wax particles, and reach up to 2.2 mm (0.09 in) in length. They have black cauda and cornicles, pale antennae and legs with brown tips. Winged females have a black thorax and a green abdomen, often adorned with three pairs of blackish spots and semicircular spots.
Identification Tips
Look for dense colonies on young growth of apple trees and other Rosaceae, particularly under the leaves where they cause slight leaf curl.
Habitat
Infests young growth of apple trees and other plants in the Rosaceae family.
Distribution
Widespread in Europe, western Asia (to India and Pakistan), North Africa, and North America. Introduced to North America in the 1840s.
Diet
Sucks sap from host plants in the Rosaceae family.
Life Cycle
Completes its life cycle on a single host species. Overwintering eggs hatch in spring, and most aphids are viviparous females that reproduce parthenogenetically. Winged females are produced in June for migration and dispersal.
Reproduction
Mainly occurs via parthenogenesis, where unmated females give birth to live young. Sexual forms appear in autumn, leading to egg-laying.
Predators
Larvae of the midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza and various parasitoids.
Ecosystem Role
Acts as a pest on apple trees and other Rosaceae, contributing to an ecological relationship with ants that tend to them in exchange for honeydew.
Economic Impact
High levels of infestation may lead to stunted shoots, disfigured fruit, and premature leaf fall, particularly detrimental to young trees.
Collecting Methods
- Visual inspection of hosts for colonies
- Using sticky traps to capture and monitor populations
Preservation Methods
- Ethanol preservation
- Drying specimens
- Pinning for morphological studies
Similar Taxa
Misconceptions
Often confused with similar aphid species such as Aphis spiraecola, which have different host preferences and reproductive rates.
Tags
- Aphid
- Apple pests
- Hemiptera
- Insecta
- Pest management