Acyrthosiphon

Mordvilko, 1914

pea aphids

Species Guides

Acyrthosiphon lactucae(Prickly Lettuce Aphid)
Acyrthosiphon macrosiphum(Long-legged Serviceberry Aphid)
Acyrthosiphon pisum(Pea aphid)

Acyrthosiphon is a of aphids in the Aphididae, established by Alexander Mordvilko in 1914. The genus has a distribution and includes several economically important agricultural pests. The best-known , Acyrthosiphon pisum (pea aphid), is a major pest of legume crops and serves as a model organism for studies of insect-bacteria , particularly its relationship with the obligate endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola.

Acyrthosiphon pisum by (c) Mihajlo Tomić, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mihajlo Tomić. Used under a CC-BY license.

Acyrthosiphon lactucae by no rights reserved, uploaded by Jesse Rorabaugh. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Acyrthosiphon: /ˌæˌsɜrθoʊˈsaɪfən/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Habitat

in this are associated with leguminous plants. Acyrthosiphon pisum has been documented on alfalfa, peas, clover, lentils, chickpeas, fava beans, and lupin. Acyrthosiphon kondoi attacks lucerne and other Leguminosae, particularly Melilotus and Trifolium.

Distribution

. Documented from Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia, North America, Central America, and South America. Specific distribution records include: Europe (widespread including Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia), Asia (China, India, Japan, Iran, Turkey), Africa (South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco), Australasia (Australia, New Zealand), and the Americas (USA, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile).

Diet

Phloem-feeding on leguminous plants. Acyrthosiphon pisum feeds on sap from leaves, stems, and pods of plants.

Host Associations

Pisum sativum - pea
Medicago sativa - alfalfa/lucerne
Trifolium - clover
Lens culinaris - lentil
Cicer arietinum - chickpea
Vicia faba - fava bean
Lupinus - lupin
Melilotus -
Glycine max - soybean

Life Cycle

Complex with both and . In temperate regions, hatch in spring to produce stem mothers (fundatrices) that reproduce parthenogenetically through summer, producing multiple of females that may be winged or unwinged. In autumn, sexual morphs ( females and males) are produced. The Arctic Acyrthosiphon svalbardicum has a shortened life cycle with only two generations: stem mother and sexuales, an to the brief breeding period from late July to late August.

Behavior

Exhibits escape in response to and vibration stimuli. Tends to cluster on plants and does not move far when food is available. Reproduces primarily by during spring and summer, enabling rapid increase.

Ecological Role

Herbivore and agricultural pest. Acyrthosiphon pisum transmits over 30 plant viruses including pea enation mosaic virus. Excreted honeydew supports growth affecting . Serves as for including Aphidius ervi, A. smithi, and Praon pequodorum, as well as predatory lady beetles. Endosymbiotic bacteria including Hamiltonella defensa and Serratia symbiotica provide defense against natural enemies.

Human Relevance

Major agricultural pest of pulse crops causing yield losses of 30-40% in years. Subject of extensive research including programs using and lady beetles. Acyrthosiphon pisum is an important model organism for studies of insect-microbe , particularly the obligate nutritional symbiosis with Buchnera aphidicola. Research on this system has advanced understanding of defensive symbiosis, , and evolutionary .

More Details

Endosymbiotic bacteria

in this harbor obligate and facultative endosymbiotic bacteria. Buchnera aphidicola is an obligate intracellular transmitted vertically that provides lacking in plant sap. Facultative symbionts including Hamiltonella defensa and Serratia symbiotica confer resistance to and predatory lady beetles. Hamiltonella defensa's protective effect against wasps depends on with a virus that produces a toxin.

Research significance

Acyrthosiphon pisum was the first basal hemimetabolous insect with a fully sequenced . The serves as a model for studying evolutionary developmental , , and insect-plant interactions.