Pterocomma populeum

Poplar trees; specifically branches, 2-year-old twigs, and bark crevices of Populus species.

Native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia; introduced to North America, South America, and Australia. Recorded on Azorean islands (Faial, Flores, São Miguel, Santa Maria, Terceira).

Phloem sap of Populus species; nutritionally imbalanced, being rich in carbohydrates but deficient in essential amino acids.

• Populus - primary hostpoplar trees; feeds on branches, twigs, and bark crevices

Forms dense colonies. Maintains obligate symbiotic relationship with Buchnera aphidicola, which resides in specialized bacteriocytes and provides essential amino acids to compensate for dietary deficiencies.

Insect pest in poplar plantations; heavy infestations cause shoot dieback.

Pest of poplar plantations; economic impact through reduced growth and shoot damage.

• Pterocomma salicisAlso in genus Pterocomma and associated with Salicaceae, but P. populeum is specifically associated with Populus rather than Salix; morphological separation requires examination of host plant and subtle morphological characters.

• aphid
• pest
• poplar
• endosymbiont
• phloem feeder
• invasive
• agricultural pest

• BugGuide
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Complete genome sequence of the obligate endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola of the poplar bark aphid Pterocomma populeum.