Tea
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Aphis aurantii
Black Citrus Aphid, Camellia Aphid
Aphis aurantii is an economically significant aphid species known as the Black Citrus Aphid or Camellia Aphid. It is a major pest in commercial tea plantations and gardens in China, where it causes substantial damage to Camellia sinensis. The species exhibits a broad host range across multiple plant families, with documented specialization on Ficus in sympatric populations suggesting ongoing host-associated divergence. Population genetic studies reveal high haplotype diversity across Chinese populations with evidence of recent expansion events and isolation-by-distance patterns.