Acyrthosiphon lactucae

(Passerini, 1860)

Prickly Lettuce Aphid

Acyrthosiphon lactucae is an in the Aphididae, commonly known as the Prickly Lettuce Aphid. It belongs to the Acyrthosiphon, which includes several economically significant agricultural pests. The species was first described by Passerini in 1860. Unlike its (the ), which has been extensively studied, relatively little specific research has been published on A. lactucae. Available records indicate presence in parts of Europe including Norway, Sweden, and the Portuguese archipelago of Madeira.

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

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Acyrthosiphon lactucae: //əˌsɪrθoʊˈsaɪfən lækˈtuːsiː//

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

Identification

Acyrthosiphon lactucae can be distinguished from other Acyrthosiphon by association with lettuce (Lactuca species), particularly prickly lettuce. The Acyrthosiphon is characterized by elongated body form, long , and well-developed siphunculi. Specific diagnostic features for A. lactucae versus the closely related and morphologically similar A. pisum require examination of host plant and subtle morphological characters. A. pisum is associated with legumes (Fabaceae), while A. lactucae is restricted to Asteraceae hosts.

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Distribution

Recorded from Norway, Sweden, Madeira Island (Portugal), and Porto Santo island (Portugal). Distribution data are sparse compared to the well-documented range of the congeneric .

Diet

Feeds on lettuce (Lactuca ), including prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola). plant specificity distinguishes this species from legume-feeding .

Host Associations

Lactuca serriola - primary Prickly lettuce
Lactuca - primary Lettuce

Human Relevance

Potential pest of lettuce crops. The congeneric (A. pisum) is a major agricultural pest, suggesting that A. lactucae may require monitoring in lettuce production systems, though specific economic impact data are not documented in available sources.

Similar Taxa

Acyrthosiphon pisumVery similar but feeds exclusively on legumes (Fabaceae) rather than Asteraceae. A. pisum is larger, more economically significant, and far better studied. plant association is the primary distinguishing character.

More Details

Taxonomic status note

Catalogue of Life lists Acyrthosiphon lactucae as an 'ambiguous synonym' of Acyrthosiphon (Acyrthosiphon) scariolae, while GBIF and NCBI treat it as an accepted . This taxonomic uncertainty reflects ongoing revisionary work in the .

Research gap

Most published research on defensive , endosymbiotic bacteria, and in the Acyrthosiphon focuses on A. pisum. Whether A. lactucae harbors similar defensive bacterial such as Hamiltonella defensa or Serratia symbiotica has not been documented.