Dna-barcoding-identification

Guides

• Aphis spiraecola

  Spirea aphid, green citrus aphid, apple aphid

  Aphis spiraecola is a polyphagous aphid species described by Edith Marion Patch in 1914. It is a significant agricultural pest of citrus, apples, and numerous ornamental plants across temperate and tropical regions worldwide. The species exhibits remarkable host flexibility, colonizing over 65 plant genera across more than 20 families. It reproduces primarily through parthenogenesis across most of its range, with holocyclic populations producing sexual morphs on primary hosts Spiraea and Citrus. The species has displaced native Aphis pomi in some regions and is considered invasive in many areas where it has been introduced.

  agricultural-pestinvasive-speciespolyphagousparthenogenesisvirus-vectorcitrus-pestapple-pestaphididaeglobal-distributioninsecticide-resistanceDNA-barcoding-identification

• Periplaneta japonica

  Japanese cockroach, Yamato cockroach

  Periplaneta japonica is a cold-tolerant cockroach native to Japan, adapted to cooler northern climates. It possesses a flexible life cycle with facultative nymphal diapause, allowing nymphs to overwinter once or twice before reaching maturity. The species produces a unique viscous proteinaceous secretion in nymphs that enables active defense against ant predators. First documented in the United States in 2012 in New York City, it has been observed to survive outdoors in freezing temperatures, distinguishing it from most urban cockroach pests.

  cockroachinvasive-speciescold-tolerancediapauseurban-pestJapanNew-Yorkdefensive-secretionDNA-barcoding-identificationPeriplanetaBlattidaeBlattodea

• Tortistilus wickhami

  A North American treehopper in the family Membracidae, recently documented for the first time in Mexico's Baja California peninsula. Previously known from the western and southwestern United States, this species was collected from grapevines in Valle de Guadalupe vineyards during 2023. Its presence in commercial vineyards raises concerns about potential economic impact, as it is suspected to be a candidate vector for grapevine red blotch virus.

  treehopperMembracidaevineyard-pestgrapevine-red-blotch-virusagricultural-pestMexico-first-recordBaja-CaliforniaValle-de-GuadalupeVitis-viniferaDNA-barcoding-identification2023-detectioneconomic-entomologyplant-virus-vectorSmiliinaeCeresiniHemipteraCicadomorphaNorth-Americawestern-United-Statesinvasive-potentialviticulturewine-grape-pest