Buchnera-aphidicola
Guides
Melanaphis bambusae
Waxy Bamboo Aphid
Melanaphis bambusae is a bamboo-feeding aphid species in the family Aphididae, commonly known as the Waxy Bamboo Aphid. It is a documented pest of bamboo forests with economic and ecological significance, particularly in regions where bamboo cultivation occurs. The species has been studied for its microbiome interactions with entomopathogenic fungi, specifically Conidiobolus obscurus, which causes natural population mortality. Research indicates that infection by this fungus and starvation stress both significantly alter the aphid's bacterial and fungal community composition.
Periphyllus lyropictus
Norway Maple Aphid
Periphyllus lyropictus is a specialist aphid species feeding exclusively on Norway maple (Acer platanoides). It possesses a distinctive di-symbiotic bacterial system involving Buchnera aphidicola and Serratia symbiotica as co-obligate nutritional endosymbionts. The S. symbiotica strain in this species exhibits a highly invasive phenotype with bacterial motility due to complete flagellum expression, contrasting with the strictly compartmentalized symbiont arrangement found in related aphid species. The two symbionts metabolically complement each other for biosynthesis of essential amino acids and B vitamins.