Myzaphis rosarum

(Kaltenbach, 1843)

Lesser Rose Aphid

Myzaphis rosarum is a small in the Aphididae, commonly known as the Lesser Rose Aphid. It colonizes Rosa species and various trees, occurring on both wild and cultivated plants. The species serves as prey for aphidophagous including Hippodamia convergens, and has been documented as a suitable supporting predator development in laboratory studies. It is distinguished from by specific morphological characters.

Myzaphis rosarum by (c) Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas. Used under a CC-BY license.

California greenhouse pests and their control (0713) (20328095859) by Pritchard, A. Earl (Arthur Earl), 1915-1965. Used under a No restrictions license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Myzaphis rosarum: /mɪˈzeɪfɪs ˈroʊzɑːrəm/

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

Identification

Distinguished from the related Myzaphis bucktoni by morphological characters detailed in taxonomic comparisons; specific diagnostic traits require examination of specimens under magnification. Smaller size relative to other rose-feeding aphids may contribute to the 'Lesser Rose '.

Images

Habitat

Rosa (roses) and trees, occurring on both wild and cultivated plants.

Distribution

Documented from the Mantaro Valley, Peru; records from Denmark; Brazil (Ceará, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, São Paulo); Azores (Flores, São Miguel, Terceira). Widespread in temperate regions.

Diet

Phloem sap of Rosa and trees.

Host Associations

Rosa spp. - primary Wild and cultivated roses
trees - Wild and cultivated trees, specific not identified

Ecological Role

Prey for aphidophagous ; serves as suitable food source supporting development of Hippodamia convergens with shorter -to- development time (22.8 days) compared to some alternative prey.

Human Relevance

Pest of cultivated roses and trees; subject to chemical control in agricultural settings, which has prompted interest in alternatives.

Similar Taxa

Myzaphis bucktoniClosely related also associated with wild roses; distinguished by morphological characters detailed in comparative taxonomic studies.
Brevicoryne brassicaeUsed as comparative prey in studies; M. rosarum supports faster predator development, indicating different nutritional suitability.

More Details

Predator suitability

In laboratory studies with Hippodamia convergens, M. rosarum supported shorter -to- development (22.8 days) than Brevicoryne brassicae (34.1 days), indicating absence of defensive secondary compounds that negatively affect performance.