Pemphigus tartareus
Hottes & Frison, 1931
Pemphigus tartareus is a North American in the Aphididae, described by Hottes and Frison in 1931. It belongs to the Pemphigus, which comprises root-feeding aphids often associated with gall formation or subterranean development on plants. The species has been historically confused with other root-infesting aphids in agricultural and horticultural contexts, particularly in discussions of "root aphid" pests.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Pemphigus tartareus: /ˈpɛmfɪɡəs tɑrˈtɑːriəs/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Distribution
Native to North America; specific range details beyond type locality are poorly documented in accessible literature.
Human Relevance
Has been erroneously implicated in internet discussions of root problems on cannabis and other crops, often confused with Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominale (rice root aphid) and other Pemphigus . This misidentification has propagated incorrect biological information and management recommendations among growers.
Similar Taxa
- Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominaleBoth are root-feeding aphids found on agricultural crops; P. tartareus has been frequently misidentified as this in online pest discussions, though R. rufiabdominale is the actual rice root aphid commonly found on cannabis.
- Pemphigus populitransversusAnother North American Pemphigus with similar gall-forming or root-feeding habits; morphological separation requires examination.
- Pemphigus phenaxCongeneric with overlapping geographic range and similar ; accurate identification depends on association and microscopic morphological features.
Misconceptions
Widely misidentified in internet sources discussing "root aphids" on cannabis, with images and biological information borrowed from unrelated such as grape phylloxera or other Pemphigus species. This has led to erroneous pest management recommendations.