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Aphids as Crop Pests
This page intentionally left blank
Aphids as Crop Pests
Edited by
and
Richard Harrington
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library,
London, UK.
The paper used for the text pages in this book is FSC certified. The FSC (Forest
Stewardship Council) is an international network to promote responsible management
of the world’s forests.
In Memoriam
François Leclant
Emeritus Professor of Entomology, ENSA, Montpellier, France
Preface xxi
1. Taxonomic Issues 1
Roger L. Blackman and Victor F. Eastop
Introduction 1
Interpreting variation in aphids 3
The taxonomy of pest aphids – what’s in a name? 4
The 14 aphid species of most agricultural importance 6
Acyrthosiphon pisum (pea aphid) 7
Aphis craccivora (cowpea aphid) 8
Aphis fabae (black bean aphid) 8
Aphis gossypii (cotton or melon aphid) 10
Aphis spiraecola (green citrus aphid or spiraea aphid) 11
Diuraphis noxia (Russian wheat aphid) 12
Lipaphis pseudobrassicae (mustard aphid) 13
Macrosiphum euphorbiae (potato aphid) 14
Myzus persicae (peach–potato aphid) 15
Rhopalosiphum maidis (corn leaf aphid) 17
Rhopalosiphum padi (bird cherry–oat aphid) 18
Schizaphis graminum (greenbug) 18
Sitobion avenae (grain aphid) 20
Therioaphis trifolii (spotted alfalfa and yellow clover aphids) 21
Conclusions 22
References 22
vii
viii Contents
Conclusions 106
References 107
Mulches 426
Row covers 427
Particle films 427
Sowing and planting date 428
Plant density 429
Crop-plant pruning 430
Irrigation and fertilizer management 430
Intercropping, living mulches and cover crops 431
Trap crops 434
Provision of resources for natural enemies 434
Provision of refuges for natural enemies 437
Conclusions 438
References 439
20. Integrated Pest Management and Introduction to IPM Case Studies 537
Helmut F. van Emden
Introduction 537
IPM as the use of multiple control measures 538
The golden rules of IPM 538
Interaction between chemical and biological control 538
Interaction between chemical control and host-plant resistance (HPR) 539
Interaction between biological control and host-plant resistance 540
Three-way interaction between chemical control, host-plant
resistance and biological control 543
Interaction between cultural control and biological control 543
The IPM case studies 543
Conclusions 544
References 546
30. IPM Case Studies: Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Trees 663
Sebastiano Barbagallo, Giuseppe Cocuzza, Piero Cravedi and
Shinkichi Komazaki
Introduction 663
Citrus aphids 663
Damage and virus transmission 666
Monitoring and economic thresholds 667
Chemical and supervised control 668
Biological control 668
Tropical fruit tree aphids 669
Damage and virus transmission 669
Monitoring and economic thresholds 673
Supervised chemical control 673
Biological control 673
Acknowledgements 673
Executive summary 673
References 674
Contents xix
Following the publication in 1998 of Thrips as Crop Pests, edited by Trevor Lewis, CABI
commissioned Aphids as Crop Pests as a second in the series. However, in prefacing this
book, we wish to pay tribute to another predecessor, Aphids: Their Biology, Natural Ene-
mies and Control, edited by Albert Minks and Paul Harrewijn and published in three vol-
umes by Elsevier between 1987 and 1989. This comprehensive and impressive work has
been the standard reference text for aphidologists for nearly 20 years, and we would not
presume to make it redundant with the publication of Aphids as Crop Pests. Therefore, in
planning the content of our book, we have concentrated on the applied aspects of
aphidology and have not sought to match the comprehensive coverage of morphology,
physiology and ecology found in Aphids: Their Biology, Natural Enemies and Control. As
far as aphid biology is concerned, we have instead emphasized areas such as current taxo-
nomic issues (Chapter 1), host selection and feeding (Chapter 4), nutrition and symbionts
(Chapter 5, which includes full instructions for successful long-term rearing of Myzus
persicae on synthetic diet), chemical ecology (Chapter 9) and reactions to stress (Chapter
11) where there have been major advances in the last fifteen years. We would especially
direct the reader to Chapter 2 on Population Genetics; molecular markers were hardly
available when Minks and Harrewijn’s book was being put together. We have therefore
given a large page allocation to this topic. In similar vein, molecular methods have enabled
many substantial recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms of aphid resis-
tance to insecticides (Chapter 10). We also felt that life cycles and polymorphism (Chapter
3), Growth and Development (Chapter 6) and aphid movement (Chapter 7) were areas
particularly relevant to aphids as pests.
We have been greatly encouraged by the readiness with which the potential authors
we first contacted agreed to participate. Having recruited scientists we felt were at the
forefront of their subject, it made sense to leave the selection of any co-authors to them.
The result is that Chapter 12 (Population Dynamics) has been brought up to date with a
strong modelling component, and that Chapter 8 on the natural enemies of aphids has
involved four leading specialists – one for each of the major taxa. This led us to expand the
page allocation for this chapter also.
The more identifiably applied part of the book starts with two chapters on the injury
caused to crops by aphid feeding (Chapter 13) and by the transmission of plant viruses
(Chapter 14). Both these chapters considerably update previous reviews on these topics.
xxi
xxii Preface
Separate chapters then cover the four main building blocks of pest management. Chap-
ter 15 on Chemical Control has much new material with the advent of neonicotinoid com-
pounds, which are especially effective against aphids, and Chapter 16 (Cultural Control)
highlights how far conservation biological control has come into practice. Chapter 17 cov-
ers Host Plant Resistance and Chapter 18 deals with Biological Control. This latter chapter
describes practical interventions, and avoids making a stronger case for the method than is
realistic. The involvement of a specialist on aphid pathogens enables these important tools
to receive adequate treatment.
Chapter 19 on Monitoring and Forecasting is again very different from what could
have been written on this topic in the 1980s, since advances in information technology
have enabled huge databases to be feasible and have made possible rapid transmission of
data and effective international networks.
Chapter 20 introduces the concepts and potential of IPM, pointing out that it origi-
nated in California with work on aphids. Specialists on aphid problems in selected crop-
ping scenarios then review the status of IPM in a series of Case Studies (Chapters 21–30).
We felt that the diversity of cropping-systems, pests and natural enemies, chemicals avail-
able etc. in different continents made a world-wide coverage for each crop too complex a
proposition, and we encouraged authors to concentrate on the region in which they them-
selves worked. Imposing a template for these chapters would have clouded the very differ-
ent issues that relate to aphids in these case studies, and we have taken the alternative
approach towards consistency of ending each case study with an “Executive Summary”,
initially written by the editors on the basis of the text supplied by the chapter author(s) but
then mutually agreed with them. The final Chapter on Decision Support Systems is another
topic which has only developed strongly since the 1980s.
Inevitably, various problems forced a few of our original authors to withdraw and so
we are especially grateful to those who only started on their chapters later and to the other
authors for their patience when they saw these chapters delaying production of the book. We
are also indebted to our authors for their invariably positive response to our comments and
suggestions for changes; they all readily accepted that any large group of virtuoso performers
needs a conductor!
The editors of a multi-author book face many problems, in particular that of repetition:
take, for example, resistance to insecticides. Although our book has a chapter specifically
on this topic, it also is a phenomenon of population genetics, it governs what chemicals
can be used and so is relevant to the Chemical Control chapter and many of the IPM Case
Studies. It would be tidy to eliminate duplication, but we are not so naïve as to think any-
one is going to read our book from start to finish. Rather, each chapter needs to stand on its
own as a comprehensive review. We have used cross references to other chapters as a par-
tial solution, but have frequently left some discussion of a topic covered in another chapter
where a cross reference alone would fail to make the point(s) the author had intended.
Another problem is the nomination of pesticides for aphid control, particularly in the
IPM Case Studies. What products are permissible for use varies from country to country
and changes almost weekly even within countries! Individual experts have therefore
referred to products in relation to their own experience and environment. Mention of a
compound should not be taken to mean it can be used elsewhere, nor necessarily after
2006.
The chapters are followed by a “Taxonomic Glossary”. Here we have listed the Latin
names of species mentioned in the book under the appropriate taxon, and then in alphabet-
ical order together with the taxonomic authority and any generally accepted English com-
mon name(s). Such a glossary had to be compiled in order to get consistency between
chapters in the citing of Latin names, and including it in the volume has meant we could
avoid adding the taxonomic authority and Latin names of well-known crops in the individ-
ual chapters. In compiling the glossary we have encountered different practices in
Preface xxiii
different taxa (e.g. insects, fungi, plants etc.) in how authorities and subspecies are cited.
Thus entomologists tend to assume that a trinomial indicates a subspecies whereas bota-
nists still insert “subsp.” before the last name. We decided to follow the accepted practice
for each taxon rather than impose uniformity. We are extremely grateful to the specialists
who advised on current taxonomic usage, Dr Anne Baker (mites), Dr Roger Blackman
(aphids), Mr Barry Bolton (ants), Dr Roland Fox (other fungi and bacteria), Dr Francis
Gilbert (syrphids), Dr Simon Gowen (nematodes), Mr Paul Hillyard (spiders), Dr Stephen
Jury and Mr Ronnie Rutherford (plants), Dr Ivo Kovar and Dr Mike Majerus (coccinellids),
Dr Martin Luff (carabids), Professor Tim New (lacewings), Dr Judith Pell (entomopatho-
gens) and Mr Nigel Wyatt (Diptera). Another specialist who provided valuable advice was
Professor Roger Plumb in relation to the nomenclature of plant viruses.
Generous sponsorship from BASF and Syngenta has made it possible to include a sec-
tion of colour plates of the aphids selected by the authors of Chapter 1 as the most serious
aphid pests worldwide. The section also includes colour plates of representatives of impor-
tant groups of natural enemies. We are extremely grateful for this encouragement and sup-
port from the agrochemical industry. The colour plates come from a variety of sources, and
we greatly appreciate the permission of copyright holders to reproduce their images with-
out paying a royalty. Many others (scientists and publishers) have also allowed us to use
their material in the various chapters; their colour images have then been converted to
grayscale. Our colleagues have without exception been most helpful in allowing us to use
copyright material – in every case we have acknowledged the source in the legends to
colour plates and other figures.
Part of the value of this book is in the comprehensive bibliographies accompanying
each chapter. In order not to restrict authors in reviewing their topic, the list of references
was not included in their page allocation. The work of editing the references was thus con-
siderable and we are grateful to Ms Berit Pederson and Mr Greg Bentley for assistance with
this chore.
We have both been researching on aphids for many years, and have become good
friends in the process. We have enjoyed working together on this book and have both some-
how found time to edit all chapters independently, though in each case one of us has taken
the lead as “first editor”. We will miss this collaboration now it has ended, but will feel
rewarded if this book is appreciated by our aphidological colleagues and proves of value to
them and those starting research on aphids for a good number of years to come.
xxv
xxvi List of Contributors
Victor F. Eastop, Department of Entomology, Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD,
UK (Chapter 1)
Helmut F. van Emden, School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights,
Reading, Berks, RG6 6AJ, UK (Chapters 5, 17, 20)
Stan Finch, Warwick HRI, The University of Warwick, Wellesbourne, Warwick, CV35 9EF
(Chapter 21)
Stephen P. Foster, Plant and Invertebrate Ecology Division, Rothamsted Research,
Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2JQ, UK (Chapter 10)
Bernd Freier, Institute for Integrated Plant Protection, BBA, 14532 Kleinmachnow,
Germany (Chapter 25)
Robert T. Glinwood, Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences,
750 07 Uppsala, Sweden (Chapter 9)
Geoff M. Gurr, School of Rural Management, Charles Sturt University, PO Box 883,
Orange, New South Wales 2800, Australia (Chapter 16)
Jim Hardie, Division of Biology, Imperial College London, Silwood Park campus, Ascot,
Berks, SL5 7PY, UK (Chapter 4)
Richard Harrington, Plant and Invertebrate Ecology Division, Rothamsted Research,
Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2JQ, UK (Chapter 19)
Maurice Hullé, INRA, UMR BiO3P, 35653 Le Rheu, France (Chapter 19)
Michael E. Irwin, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences,
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA (Chapter 7)
Rufus Isaacs, Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
48824, USA (Chapter 22)
Vojtech Jarosík, Department of Ecology, Charles University, 12844 Prague 2, Czech
Republic and Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, 25243 Pruhonice, Czech
Republic (Chapter 12)
Gail E. Kampmeier, Section of Ecological Entomology, Illinois Natural History Survey,
Urbana, IL 61801, USA (Chapter 7)
Nikos I. Katis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Agriculture, Laboratory
of Plant Pathology, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece (Chapter 14)
Pavel Kindlmann, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of South Bohemia and
Institute of Landscape Ecology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 Ceské Budgjovice,
Czech Republic (Chapter 12)
A. Michael Klüken, Institute of Plant Protection and Plant Diseases, University of
Hannover, 30419 Hannover, Germany (Chapter 25)
Jonathan D. Knight, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, Silwood
Park campus, Ascot, Berks, SL5 7PY, UK (Chapter 31)
Shinkichi Komazaki, Grape and Persimmon Research Station, National Institute of Fruit
Tree Science, NARO, Hiroshima, Japan (Chapters 29, 30)
Simon R. Leather, Division of Biology, Imperial College London, Silwood Park campus,
Ascot, Berks, SL5 7PY, UK (Chapter 6)
François Leclant (the late), Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique, 34060 Montpellier
Cedex 5, France (Chapter 23)
Hugh D. Loxdale, Plant and Invertebrate Ecology Division, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden,
Herts, AL5 2JQ, UK (Chapter 2)
Gugs Lushai, Plant and Invertebrate Ecology Division, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden,
Herts, AL5 2JQ, UK (Chapter 2)
Manfred Mackauer, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby,
B.C., V5A 1S6, Canada (Chapter 8)
Gerald J. Michels, Jr., Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Bushland, TX 79012, USA
(Chapter 27)
List of Contributors xxvii
Xinzhi Ni, USDA-ARS Crop Genetics and Breeding Research Unit, Coastal Plain
Experiment Station, Tifton, GA 31793, USA (Chapter 13)
Judith K. Pell, Plant and Invertebrate Ecology Division, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden,
Herts, AL5 2JQ, UK (Chapters 8, 18)
Jan Pettersson, Department of Ecology, The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences,
750 07 Uppsala, Sweden (Chapter 4)
John A. Pickett, Biological Chemistry Division, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts,
AL5 2JQ, UK (Chapter 9)
Manuel Plantegenest, INRA, UMR BiO3P, 35653 Le Rheu, France (Chapter 19)
Hans-Michael Poehling, Institute of Plant Protection and Plant Diseases, University of
Hannover, 30419 Hannover, Germany (Chapter 25)
Katherine L. Ponder, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston,
Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK (Chapter 11)
Glen Powell, Division of Biology, Imperial College London, Wye campus, Ashford, Kent,
TN25 5AH, UK (Chapter 14)
Wilf Powell, Plant and Invertebrate Ecology Division, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden,
Herts, AL5 2JQ, UK (Chapter 18)
Jeremy Pritchard, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston,
Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK (Chapter 11)
Sharron S. Quisenberry, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech,
Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA (Chapter 13)
Edward B. Radcliffe, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN
55108, USA (Chapter 26)
David W. Ragsdale, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN
55108, USA (Chapter 26)
Katherine A. Robinson, National Centre for Advanced Bio-Protection Technologies,
Lincoln University, Canterbury 7647, New Zealand (Chapter 16)
Mark Stevens, Broom’s Barn Research Station, Higham, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28
6NP, UK (Chapter 14)
Robert A. Surányi, McLaughlin Gormley King Company, 8810 Tenth Ave. N, Minneapolis,
MN 55427, USA (Chapter 26)
G. Mark Tatchell, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill
Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK (Chapter 24)
Deborah J. Thackray, Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture, MO80, Faculty
of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling
Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia and Plant Pathology, Department of Agriculture
and Food Western Australia, Locked Bag 4, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983, Australia
(Chapter 31)
W. Fred Tjallingii, Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, PO Box 8031,
Wageningen, The Netherlands (Chapter 4)
John A. Tsitsipis, University of Thessaly, Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and
Rural Environment, Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, 384 46, Nea
Ionia Magnissias, Greece (Chapter 14)
Jason M. Tylianakis, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag
4800, Christchurch 8020, New Zealand (Chapter 16)
Maurice Vaissayre, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour
le Développement, Avenue Agropolis, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France (Chapter 23)
Wolfgang Völkl, Department of Animal Ecology, University of Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth,
Germany (Chapter 8)
Susan E. Webb, Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville,
FL 32611, USA (Chapter 28)
Wolfgang W. Weisser, Institute of Ecology, Friedrich-Schiller-University, 07743 Jena,
Germany (Chapter 7)
xxviii List of Contributors
Iain S. Williams, Science Directorate, DEFRA, Nobel House, Smith Square, London, SW1P
3JH, UK (Chapter 3)
J. A. Trefor Woodford, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA,
UK (Chapter 22)
Steve D. Wratten, National Centre for Advanced Bio-Protection Technologies, Lincoln
University, Canterbury 7647, New Zealand (Chapter 16)
1 Taxonomic Issues
No. of
agriculturally
Characteristic Geographical Host important Representative
Taxon host plants distribution alternation? spp./total spp. genera
Adelgidae Coniferae Holarctic Most 0/49 Adelges, Pineus
Phylloxeridae Fagaceae, Juglandaceae Holarctic (mostly nearctic) Some 1/64 Phylloxera, Viteus
Aphididae:
Eriosomatinae Ulmaceae, Salicaceae, Holarctic, oriental Most 9/319 Eriosoma, Pemphigus
Anacardiaceae, roots of
gymno- and angiosperms
Hormaphidinae Hamamelidaceae, Styracaceae, Mostly oriental Many or 5/176 Astegopteryx, Cerataphis,
palms, bamboos most Ceratovacuna
Anoeciinae Cornus, grass roots Holarctic Most 2/24 Anoecia
Calaphidinae Deciduous trees Holarctic None 6/331 Chromaphis, Myzocallis,
Therioaphis
Saltusaphidinae Sedges Holarctic None 0/68 Iziphya, Subsaltusaphis,
Thripsaphis
Chaitophorinae Salicaceae, Acer, grasses Holarctic None 2/164 Atheroides, Sipha
Greenideinae Dicotyledonous trees Eastern palaearctic, None 2/151 Anomalosiphon,
oriental Greenidea
Pterocommatinae Salicaceae Holarctic None 0/51 Pterocomma
Aphidinae:
Aphidini Some 20/738 Aphis, Rhopalosiphum,
generation time and enabling far more effi- examples, we will discuss 14 taxa that prob-
cient exploitation of periods of rapid plant ably head the list of economically important
growth. aphid species.
Aphids (Aphididae) can be recognized
by a number of shared morphological char-
acteristics that developed before the diver- Interpreting Variation in Aphids
gence into present-day subfamilies: e.g.
siphunculi (secretory organs, but with their In the year 2000, soybean crops in the USA
precise function still strangely enigmatic); and Australia were attacked for the first time
five- or six-segmented antennae composed of by large numbers of an aphid closely resem-
two basal segments and a segmented flagel- bling the well-known polyphagous species,
lum with a terminal process; two-segmented Aphis gossypii (cotton or melon aphid), but
tarsi with the first segment much shorter than obviously with a far greater affinity for soy-
the second; and a cauda, or tail, that is often bean. Taxonomists identified the species as
used for flicking away droplets of honeydew Aphis glycines (soybean aphid), previously
from the anus. These features have been mod- known only from the Far East. It had been
ified, reduced, or secondarily lost in some introduced probably a year or two earlier,
species, but are evident in most aphids that building numbers and spreading until field
are pests of crop plants. entomologists and growers realized that they
Of the present-day subfamilies of Aphi- had something new on their hands. Aphis
didae, one in particular was successful at glycines is biologically quite different from
exploiting the rapid expansion of numbers A. gossypii; it is specific to soybean in sum-
and diversity of herbaceous flowering plants mer and has host alternation, overwintering
in the Tertiary period. This subfamily, the on Frangula spp. Identification immediately
Aphidinae, with 2750+ extant species, is unlocked much crucial information about
predominantly a northern temperate group, this species and its biology, as well as where
with life cycles closely tied to temperate to look for its natural enemies. In this case,
seasonality and the phenologies of temper- the question ‘What is it?’ seems to have a
ate plants. Originally on woody plants, they fairly clear-cut answer; the soybean aphid is
evolved a system of host alternation, migrating a relatively well-known and well-studied
to completely unrelated herbaceous plants for species in Eastern Asia. Although morpho-
the summer months, where their parthenoge- logically resembling A. gossypii and requir-
netic generations could continue to utilize ing specialist identification, it is clearly a
stages of rapid plant growth. However, today, distinct species. There are plenty of other
only about 15% of Aphidinae host-alternate. cases, however, including other close rela-
Some of the other 85% live only on woody tives of A. gossypii, where the question of
plants, but most of them, including some of identity is not so easily answered. Several
the largest and most successful genera, have of these are discussed in the next section of
lost or given up the ancestral woody (pri- this chapter. Sometimes, taxonomic diffi-
mary) host, and now live all-year-round on culties arise as a result of founder effects
herbaceous plants. Host alternation has, in and, even in the case of the soybean aphid,
fact, evolved independently in several other it may be necessary to bear in mind that the
aphid subfamilies (von Dohlen and Moran, introduced population has been through a
2000), but the Aphidinae are the only sub- recent ‘bottleneck’, and can be expected
family to exploit numerous families and to have less allelic diversity than East Asian
genera of flowering plants. populations.
In the rest of this chapter, we will look Taxonomy and identification are a mat-
at aphids from a taxonomist’s viewpoint. ter of interpreting observed variation. The
We will highlight some of the problems of first problem to be overcome is the effect of
interpreting the observed variation within the environment on the phenotype, especially
and between species, and discuss what the if the only available data are morphological.
names we give to aphids really mean. Then, as Most species are distinguished and described
4 R.L. Blackman and V.F. Eastop
originally, often from one small sample only, on the length relationships between body
using morphological criteria, and most iden- parts (allometry), which can play havoc with
tifications are based on keys that use morpho- the morphometric ratios and functions often
logical discriminants. As a group, aphids are used to discriminate between closely related
renowned for the considerable extent to which species (Blackman and Spence, 1994).
the phenotype is influenced by environmen- Thus, it is important to take into acc-
tal factors. Within any aphid species, there ount the possible effects of season, host plant,
are a number of different forms (morphs) with and climate when examining samples of
discrete morphological differences, which field-collected aphids. It is also necessary to
may be triggered by specific environmental bear in mind that a sample might consist of
stimuli such as day length or crowding. It is a single clone, especially if it comes from a
well known, for example, that in most aphids, warm temperate or subtropical region where
the parthenogenetic females can be winged the population has not gone through a sex-
or wingless, the differences being not just in ual phase and is therefore more likely to be
the presence or absence of wings but invol- clonally structured. All the aphids in a
ving every part of the body. Separate identi- clone are, discounting mutations, geneti-
fication keys are therefore needed for each cally identical, so a sample consisting of a
morph, but the structural distinction between single clone will give a misleading idea of
the winged and wingless morphs is not always the range of variation in the species. Some-
as clear as might be expected, as wingless times ‘abnormal’ morphological features
individuals may occur with some tendency may occur, which may be due to mutation,
towards the characters of the winged morph. but are often no more than character states
Likewise, intermediates between other morphs near the extremes of a range of continuous
can occur; for example, between viviparous variation, and part of the natural variation
parthenogenetic females and oviparous sex- of all living organisms. In sexually repro-
ual females. ducing organisms, any particular abnormal
The range of continuous morphological character state is likely to occur in only the
variation is also wider than in many other occasional, rare individual within a popula-
insect groups. Increases or decreases of size tion, and thus will be instantly recognizable
due to nutritional effects, for example, can as an extreme or rare condition. In aphids, it
accumulate over several generations, because is possible to find a whole colony of indi-
the size of the mother can affect the size of viduals all with the same anomalous char-
her offspring. There may be large seasonal acters. Such a colony has sometimes been
differences, with some species producing erroneously described as a new species.
dwarf individuals when food quality is poor
in midsummer. The parthenogenetic female
that hatches from the overwintering egg – The Taxonomy of Pest Aphids –
the fundatrix or stem mother – is morpho- What’s in a Name?
logically different from the later generations
of parthenogenetic females, and sometimes The species that become pests are those that
the particular features of the fundatrix are only are best able to adapt to and exploit man-
gradually lost in subsequent generations. In modified environments. Many of them belong
some aphid groups – although not in most to groups that were probably already specia-
Aphidinae – the generations on the secondary ting rapidly before human intervention, and
host differ greatly in morphology from those on the colonization of new geographical regions
the primary host, and were originally descri- and/or new habitats are potent factors lead-
bed as different species and often placed in ing to further divergence and change. Sev-
different genera. The temperature experi- eral examples of this are discussed in the
enced during development can also have concluding part of this chapter.
profound effects on morphology, involving Although it is clear that pest aphids are
not only general body size and pigmenta- highly dynamic, rapidly evolving systems,
tion, but also having more subtle influences there still seems to be a tendency, among
Taxonomic Issues 5
that the term ‘semispecies’ could convey this recognizable entities which show certain
idea of ‘species in the making’, without imply- consistent distinguishing properties, indi-
ing anything about the nature of the specia- cating an interruption or significant restric-
tion process or the degree of reproductive tion of gene flow and making it reasonable
isolation. Semispecies have been used already to conclude that speciation is in progress, but
for many years by both plant and animal has not reached the stage of irreversibility.
taxonomists with experience of the problems A working definition of an aphid sub-
of describing species complexes, including species. A group of populations that is rec-
some of the best-studied ones such as those ognizably part of an existing species yet
of the fruit fly, Drosophila. They have not, maintains a consistent suite of properties
however, been used for aphids, or most distinguishing it from other populations
other insect groups of agricultural impor- within that species. The species should be
tance, nor have they been accommodated sufficiently well known for it to be reason-
into the Zoological Code of Nomenclature. ably certain that the observed variation is
On further reflection, it seems unrealistic discontinuous, and the consistency of this
to expect the wide acceptance and use in discontinuity should be demonstrated by
aphid taxonomy or agricultural entomology samples from more than one time and place.
of the term semispecies and, even if it were The likely cause of the discontinuity should
accepted, that would still not resolve the be identifiable, for example a difference in
problem of nomenclature. host-plant relationships, life cycle proper-
Rakauskas (2004) has recently revived ties, or geographic location, and should not
Müller’s (1986) proposal for a broader use be of such a kind as to make it irreversible
of the subspecies category to validate its (e.g. permanent parthenogenesis). The des-
application to aphid species complexes, cription of a new subspecies should give a
and – of particular relevance to the present clear and accurate account of its morphologi-
chapter – to meet the practical need of pro- cal and biological properties in comparison
viding names that identify intraspecific cat- with those of other populations within the
egories in groups that include pest species. species, and include the best possible
We support this idea and accommodate it in morphological discriminants. One clone
our discussion of the taxonomy of some of should be designated as the type, with slide-
the major pest aphids that occupies the mounted specimens deposited in a national
remainder of this chapter. collection and other specimens of the same
Blackman (1995) drew attention to the clone deep-frozen and/or preserved in abso-
extensive misuse of the term ‘species concept’ lute ethanol for future DNA studies.
in the literature on evolution and speciation,
which has made it difficult for taxonomists
and evolutionists working in different
fields and on different groups of organisms The 14 Aphid Species of Most
to agree about the nature of species. The Agricultural Importance
same difficulties have also impeded the use (See also colour plates in this volume.)
of the subspecies category. To emphasize the
distinction between a concept and a working There is a very large literature about all the
definition in the case of subspecies, we offer major pest aphid species. Much of the recent
below (i) a description of the ‘subspecies work is readily accessible on the Internet,
concept’ that is applicable to all organisms and summary accounts are provided by
irrespective of their modes of speciation, Blackman and Eastop (2000). The treatments
and (ii) a working definition for the subspe- that follow are therefore largely concerned
cies category in aphids. with the taxonomic issues raised by these
The subspecies as a concept. Subspecies 14 species, and the two factors that have the
can be conceived as a species in the making; greatest influence on intraspecific variation
populations or groups of populations that in aphids, the life cycle and the host plant.
have diverged to the extent that they are These factors are considered further in the
Taxonomic Issues 7
next chapter from a population geneticist’s sexual phase on Vicia. Recent molecular
viewpoint. work has shown that populations coloniz-
ing peas, lucerne, and red clover in France
are genetically divergent and also differ in
Acyrthosiphon pisum (pea aphid) their symbionts (Simon et al., 2003).
There seem to be several other specia-
Acyrthosiphon pisum is a rather large, green tion events currently in progress in Europe,
or pink aphid with long, slender appendages, with populations also in the process of
forming colonies on young growth and devel- diverging on Lotus and Sarothamnus. A
oping pods of many leguminous plants. Its form that lives on Ononis in Europe is mor-
host plants are mostly Fabaceae of the the phologically recognizable and is currently
tribes Genistae (Cytisus, Genista, Sarothamnus, regarded as a subspecies (A. pisum ononis),
Spartium), Trifoliae (Medicago, Melilotus, but could be a distinct species.
Ononis, Trifolium, Trigonella), Fabeae (Lathy- Populations introduced to other parts
rus, Lens, Pisum, Vicia), and Hedysareae of the world must at least originally have
(Hippocrepis, Onobrychis), and it also colo- been genetically depauperate, and hence
nizes a few members of other tribes, e.g. Lotus their biology and host-plant relations may
(Loteae) and Glycine (Phaseolae). Many have diverged significantly from the species
legumes, including some of economic impor- in Europe. The genotype(s) introduced to
tance (e.g. Phaseolus), and almost all other North America initially lacked the dominant
plants are not colonized, although under dry red (pink) allele that is frequent in European
conditions it is sometimes found on Capsella populations, and were particularly well adap-
bursa-pastoris. It is a vector of more than 30 ted to lucerne. They were named as a new
virus diseases, including non-persistent viruses species (Johnson, 1900), and this name
of beans, peas, beet, clover, cucurbits, Nar- (destructor) has been proposed as a sub-
cissus, and Brassicaceae, and the persistent specific name not only for the North Ameri-
viruses, Pea enation mosaic virus (PEMV) and can populations (Hille Ris Lambers, 1947),
Bean leaf roll virus (BLRV). but also for the green, pea-adapted form in
Originally a palaearctic species, A. pisum Europe from which it was assumed to have
now has an almost worldwide distribution been derived (Müller, 1985; but see below).
(see CIE Distribution Map 23, last revised Variation within and between North American
1982). In cold temperate regions, it is populations has been studied with respect
holocyclic, producing oviparae and males on to resistance in lucerne (Frazer, 1972) and
various leguminous hosts. As in other members pea (Cartier, 1963) varieties, life-history traits
of the genus Acyrthosiphon, there is no true (MacKay et al., 1993), photoperiodic respon-
host alternation. The ancestral primary host ses (Smith and MacKay, 1990) and migra-
was presumably a member of the Rosaceae, as tory tendencies (Lamb and MacKay, 1979).
in related genera, but this was probably lost Harper et al. (1978) provided a bibliography
long ago. Clones may produce either apterous of all the earlier work on A. pisum.
or alate males, or both. At warmer latitudes, In ground-breaking work that has illu-
it overwinters without a sexual phase. minated the evolutionary processes that may
In Europe and Central Asia, A. pisum be going on in crop-colonizing aphids, Via
seems to be a complex of races and subspe- (1991, 1999) demonstrated that populations
cies with different host ranges and prefer- of A. pisum on lucerne and red clover in
ences (Müller, 1980, 1985). Populations north-eastern USA perform significantly
attacking peas (Pisum sativum) in Europe better on their respective host plants, and are
consist entirely of green genotypes and reproductively isolated from one another as a
have some morphological differences from result of inherited differences in host selec-
those colonizing other leguminous crops such tion by alatae, which lead to assortative
as lucerne (Medicago sativa), which may be mating. Hawthorne and Via (2001) have
green or pink. They produce alate sexuparae shown recently that there is close genetic
and males in autumn, and go through a linkage at several loci between the two key
8 R.L. Blackman and V.F. Eastop
of sugarbeet. Adult apterae in new colonies on colonize certain other plants, but is not
young plant growth are matt black in life, most found on Vicia or Solanum.
of the pigmentation of the body being internal, 4. Aphis euonymi, a brown aphid that
so that it is no longer present in cleared spec- stays on Euonymus all year round.
imens prepared for the microscope. Individ- 5. Aphis fabae mordvilkoi, again almost
uals in older colonies and feeding on leaves indistinguishable from A. fabae sensu stricto,
tend to develop white wax markings. but with sexual generations on Viburnum
Aphis fabae is a very polyphagous spe- opulus or Philadelphus coronarius, and mig-
cies, but the actual host range of the aphid rating for the summer mainly to various
that colonizes beans and sugarbeet is unclear, secondary hosts, but not colonizing Vicia,
because it is a member of a bewildering com- Solanum, or Cirsium, and often occurring
plex of species, at least some of which also on Arctium spp. and Tropaeolum majus.
have wide host ranges. Many people have
tried to sort out this complex. Stroyan (1984: However, the host ranges of all members of
119–122) reviewed the taxonomy and host the group seem to overlap and some plants,
relations of the group as then understood. such as Rumex obtusifolius, seem to be accep-
There has been significant work since then ted by them all (Thieme, 1987, 1988).
(e.g. Müller and Steiner, 1986; Thieme, 1987, To complicate the story still further,
1988; Thieme and Dixon, 1996; Raymond the primary host relationships of the mem-
et al., 2001), but a lot of questions still remain. bers of the group are also not at all clear-cut.
To summarize the situation in Northern Aphis fabae sensu stricto and A. solanella
Europe as succinctly as possible, there are are able to live on Viburnum and Philadel-
five closely related taxa, four of which go phus, the primary hosts of A. f. cirsiiacan-
through their sexual phase on the spindle thoidis and A. f. mordvilkoi, and may in
tree, Euonymus europaeus: autumn produce males on these plants, but
not oviparae (Iglisch, 1968). Hybridization
1. Aphis fabae sensu stricto (A. fabae ssp. between any members of the group is there-
fabae), which has Euonymus as its only pri- fore theoretically possible, and can be accom-
mary host and migrates for the summer to a plished rather easily in the laboratory, even
wide range of plants, including Vicia faba, between slightly less closely related forms
sugarbeet, Chenopodium album, and pop- such as A. fabae and the brown species, A.
pies, but not Solanum nigrum. euonymi (Müller, 1982). However, it is now
2. Aphis solanella, which also has Euony- clear that such results are misleading, and
mus as its only primary host and migrates to that strong prezygotic isolating mechanisms
a wide range of plants including S. nigrum, are likely to be operating to prevent hybrid-
the leaves of which it crumples and curls ization and promote assortative mating in
characteristically, but will not colonize beans, the field. Aphis fabae sensu stricto and A.
sugarbeet, Chenopodium album, or poppies. solanella occurring together on Euonymus
Aphis solanella, which has shorter hairs show differences in the diurnal patterns of
than A. fabae and a greater tolerance of high pheromone release by oviparae and male
temperatures, has usually been classed as a responsiveness, and in choice experiments,
subspecies of A. fabae, but Thieme and Dixon males preferred the sex pheromones of con-
(2004) suggested that it should have full specific females (Thieme and Dixon, 1996).
species status. It is a pest in its own right, Prezygotic isolating mechanisms have also
especially on Solanaceae. been demonstrated in the laboratory between
3. Aphis fabae cirsiiacanthoidis, which A. fabae sensu stricto and A. f. mordvilkoi,
normally uses Euonymus as a primary host although these subspecies do not share the
but can also go through its sexual phase on same primary host in nature (Raymond et al.,
Viburnum opulus. This form is morphologi- 2001).
cally hardly distinguishable from A. fabae In spite of this evidence of substan-
sensu stricto, but has Cirsium arvense as tial reproductive isolation between the mem-
its most characteristic summer host. It can bers of the A. fabae complex, analysis of
10 R.L. Blackman and V.F. Eastop
mitochondrial DNA and of a plasmid from cocoa, aubergine, peppers, potato, okra, and
their symbionts showed differences within, many ornamental plants including chry-
but not between, species (Raymond et al., santhemums and Hibiscus. Populations on
2001). This is similar to the situation in A. cotton and cucurbits can be particularly large
pisum already discussed (where host/habi- and damaging. More than 50 plant viruses are
tat selection rather than mate selection is transmitted, including non-persistent viruses
the isolating factor), and suggests that such of beans and peas, crucifers, celery, cowpea,
isolating mechanisms may evolve very rap- cucurbits, Dahlia, lettuce, onion, pawpaw,
idly, possibly by the process known as rein- peppers, soybean, strawberry, sweet potato,
forcement (Coyne and Orr, 1989; Mackenzie tobacco, and tulips, and the persistent Cotton
and Guldemond, 1994). anthocyanosis virus, Lily symptomless virus,
On the evidence of its primary host and PEMV, and lily rosette disease.
closest relatives, A. fabae must be of Euro- In all the warmer parts of the world, A.
pean origin. Aphis fabae sensu stricto gossypii reproduces continuously by parthe-
occurs in Europe, Western Asia, Africa, and nogenesis. It is particularly abundant and
South America. It is a vector of more than widely distributed in the tropics, including
30 plant viruses, including non-persistent many Pacific islands. During prolonged dry
viruses of beans and peas, beets, crucifers, seasons in hot countries, small colonies
cucurbits, Dahlia, potato, tobacco, tomato, may survive on a great variety of plants on
and tulip, and the persistent Beet yellow net which they are seldom seen during the grow-
virus (BYNV) and Potato leaf roll virus ing season, including Poaceae. Deguine and
(PLRV). In warmer regions – the Mediterra- Leclant (1997) provided a comprehensive
nean and the Middle East, the Indian sub- account with an extensive bibliography.
continent, and hotter parts of Africa and Certain morphological features – short
South America – it is replaced by A. hairs on legs and antennae, and a cauda that
solanella, reproducing parthenogenetically is usually paler than the siphunculi and
throughout the year on its secondary host bears rather few hairs – make it easy to apply
plants, particularly Solanaceae, Asteraceae, the name A. gossypii to aphids collected on
and Polygonaceae. The Tropaeolum-feeding crops or other non-indigenous plants any-
subspecies A. f. mordvilkoi has a more where in the world. This is, however, a con-
northerly, holarctic distribution, and uses siderable oversimplification of the taxonomic
Viburnum trilobum as its main primary host problem, as becomes evident, for example,
in Canada (Barber and Robinson, 1980; as when one compares accounts of A. gossypii
A. barbarae). in Europe and East Asia.
In Europe (Stroyan, 1984; Heie, 1986), A.
gossypii is classed as a subspecies in the Aphis
Aphis gossypii (cotton or melon aphid) frangulae complex, a group of closely related
and morphologically almost indistinguish-
If the multiplicity of populations that are able indigenous European species that use
lumped under the name A. gossypii are buckthorn (Frangula alnus) as their primary
really all one species, then it is indeed a host. Aphis gossypii is regarded (that is, more
remarkable one, with greater diversity in or less defined) as the only member of the
terms of host relationships, life cycle, and group that does not have a sexual phase on
geographical range than any other aphid. buckthorn, overwintering parthenogenetically
Small aphids that vary greatly in colour from in Northern Europe in protected situations
pale yellow dwarfs at high temperatures, such as glasshouses. One might conclude from
through dirty yellow-green to dark bluish- this scenario that this worldwide pest origi-
green or almost black at lower temperatures, nated in Europe as a permanently partheno-
occur on plants in numerous families, genetic, highly polyphagous and adaptable
including nearly a hundred species of crop offshoot of the A. frangulae complex, and
plants, throughout the world. Crops attac- spread from there to all parts of the world as
ked include cotton, cucurbits, citrus, coffee, the classic ‘general purpose genotype’.
Taxonomic Issues 11
However, such a conclusion is difficult Particular host associations have been noted
or impossible to reconcile with accounts of previously in A. gossypii, for example, in
what is purportedly the same species in European glasshouses, where aphids from
Japan and China, where the parthenogenetic chrysanthemums will not colonize cucum-
generations seem equally polyphagous, but ber, and vice versa (Guldemond et al., 1994).
there is an annual sexual phase. Overwin- These glasshouse populations on both chry-
tering as eggs occurs in East Asia on a vari- santhemums and cucurbits are normally par-
ety of unrelated plants, including Frangula thenogenetic, but can produce sexual morphs
spp., but also Hibiscus syriacus, Celastrus under certain conditions (Guldemond et al.,
orbiculatus, and Rubia cordifolia (Inaizumi, 1994 and Fuller et al., 1999, respectively).
1980; Zhang and Zhong, 1990). It is possible The work of Vanlerberghe-Masutti and Chavi-
that some of these populations have diverged gny is the first to show that forms of A.
as a result of differential selection among gossypii with particular host associations
these primary hosts; populations overwin- may be distributed over a wide area. One
tering on R. cordifolia in Japan, for exam- may hypothesize that two forms have become
ple, seem to be isolated from those on other widely distributed, possibly with different
primary hosts, and are possibly a separate geographic origins, both with rare sexual
taxon (Inaizumi, 1981). Earlier, Kring (1959) reproduction, one found particularly on
had demonstrated that populations in Con- Cucurbitaceae and Malvaceae (and causing a
necticut, USA, also have a sexual phase, major pest problem on cotton), and the other
using H. syriacus and also Catalpa bigno- specializing on Asteraceae. These may corre-
nioides as primary hosts. spond to the two forms, one cucurbit-feeding
So, did the worldwide pest called A. and the other chrysanthemum-feeding, iden-
gossypii originate in Europe, East Asia, or tified in European glasshouses. Further evi-
North America? North America is unlikely dence of the existence of a distinct, widely
to be the ancestral homeland, because there distributed Asteraceae-feeding form of A.
are no indigenous North American Aphis spe- gossypii has come recently from a multi-
cies of the group of species closely related to variate morphometric study (Margarito-
A. gossypii that use Frangula as primary poulos et al., 2006). However, there were no
hosts. In East Asia, there are indigenous consistent host-associated RAPD bands in
species related to A. gossypii that have a Japanese A. gossypii populations studied by
sexual phase on Frangula, such as the soybean Komazaki and Osakabe (1998), where there is
aphid A. glycines, but none of these seem regular genetic recombination. The problems
quite so similar in morphology to A. gossy- of identity and origin of A. gossypii and the
pii as the European A. frangulae group. The taxonomic status of host-associated forms,
answer to this enigma can only come from thus still remain, and require investigation
some extensive work encompassing the of the much more complex genetics of pop-
entire geographical and host-plant range of ulations in places where A. gossypii and its
A. gossypii and including comparisons with relatives have an annual sexual phase.
related species in Europe and East Asia.
Vanlerberghe-Masutti and Chavigny
(1998) provided some interesting pointers Aphis spiraecola (green citrus aphid
for further work, with a study of random or spiraea aphid)
amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) of 18
A. gossypii populations from Southern This is a small yellow or greenish-yellow
Europe, La Réunion, and Laos. They found aphid with black siphunculi and cauda,
certain RAPD bands that were fixed in popu- found in dense, ant-attended colonies, curl-
lations collected from cucurbits and absent ing and distorting leaves near the stem api-
from those collected on non-cucurbit hosts, ces of a wide range of plants, particularly
and the 18 populations therefore clustered those of shrubby habit. Its numerous hosts
into two groups according to host plant, are in more than 20 plant families, espe-
irrespective of their geographical origins. cially Caprifoliaceae, Asteraceae, Rosaceae,
12 R.L. Blackman and V.F. Eastop
Rubiaceae, Rutaceae, and Apiaceae. Proba- Compared with the problems raised by
bly, its most important crop host is Citrus. A. fabae and A. gossypii, the taxonomic sta-
Although not particularly efficient at trans- tus, origins, and identity of A. spiraecola
mitting viruses, very large populations occur seemed to be fairly clear. However, Komazaki
in spring in some regions – the Middle East, et al. (1979) found that A. spiraecola in
for example – and can make it an important Japan was using Citrus unshiu as well as
vector of Citrus tristeza virus. It also transmits Spiraea thunbergii as a primary host, and
Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Plum pox experimental work demonstrated that there
virus, an isolate of Alfalfa mosaic virus from were genetically inherited differences in
Viburnum, Water melon mosaic virus 2, hatching time (Komazaki, 1983, 1986) and
and Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV). egg diapause (Komazaki, 1998), correlated
Now almost worldwide, there seems with esterase differences (Komazaki, 1991),
little doubt that A. spiraecola is indigenous that seem to indicate a degree of genetic iso-
to East Asia. It has been in North America since lation and divergence between the popula-
at least 1907, and had reached Australia by tions on the two primary hosts. Presumably,
1926, New Zealand by 1931, Argentina by the ancestral primary host was the rosaceous
1939, the Mediterranean region by about plant (Spiraea), and Citrus unshiu was acqui-
1939, and Africa by 1961. Populations in red more recently as a primary host. This
most parts of the world are permanently seems to be an example of incipient specia-
parthenogenetic on secondary hosts, but in tion, as in Via’s populations of A. pisum, but
East Asia and North America, A. spiraecola again it is not yet clear whether it is more
has a sexual phase on Spiraea. than a local phenomenon. There are no
There is an extensive literature on A. records of sexual generations on Citrus out-
spiraecola, particularly in relation to its eco- side Japan, and it could be that they are
nomic importance on Citrus (it was referred unable to survive on other Citrus species. In
to as A. citricola in the literature from 1975– Japan, alatae migrating from spring popula-
1988 because of a misidentification). The tions that had developed from overwinte-
most comprehensive accounts of A. spira- ring eggs on Citrus unshiu seemed to be the
ecola as a Citrus pest are by Barbagallo (1966) most important source of infestations of Cit-
in Italy and Miller (1929) in Florida. On other rus groves at a time when the main migra-
plants, especially Rosaceae, A. spiraecola is tion from Spiraea had already taken place
often confused with Aphis pomi (green apple (Komazaki, 1983).
aphid). For example, Cottier (1953) wrote
an account of A. spiraecola in New Zealand
under the name A. pomi, and Singh and Diuraphis noxia (Russian wheat aphid)
Rhomberg (1984) studied allozyme varia-
tion in populations nominally of A. pomi This small, narrow-bodied, yellow-green
on apples in North America and found two aphid was little known outside southern
forms, one of which was almost certainly A. Russia until the late 1970s. It then took only a
spiraecola. Aphis pomi has a longer last little over 10 years to colonize the main
rostral segment than A. spiraecola, more hairs wheat- and barley-growing areas of East Asia,
on the cauda, and usually has lateral tuber- South Africa, and both North and South
cles on abdominal segments 2–4 (see also America (see IIE Distribution Map 521, 1991).
Halbert and Voegtlin, 1992). There also is It is still expanding its range northward in
possible confusion of identity with Aphis Europe (Thieme et al., 2001). Hughes and
eugeniae in East and South-east Asia and Maywald (1990) assessed the suitability of the
Australia that can occur on the same hosts; Australian environment for D. noxia, although
A. eugeniae can be recognized by the it still (as at 2006) has not reached Australia.
peg-like hairs on the hind tibia, and by the Diuraphis noxia feeds only on Poaceae,
presence of a median sense peg between concentrating particularly on wheat and
the pair of hairs on the first segment of the barley. It does best on late-sown crops on
hind tarsus. poor soils. It transmits Barley yellow dwarf
Taxonomic Issues 13
virus, but its feeding also has a rapidly toxic in Ukraine, and Tanigoshi et al. (1995) descri-
effect on the plant, the leaves of which bed biological control measures. Chen and
become rolled into tubes and desiccated, Hopper (1997) studied its population dyna-
and infested ears become bent. In cold tem- mics and the impact of natural enemies in
perate regions of Europe and Asia, it has a southern France.
sexual phase without host alternation on
wheat and barley. In North America, it has
been assumed generally to have no sexual Lipaphis pseudobrassicae (mustard
phase. Kiriac et al. (1990) found some ovipa- aphid, also known as the false
rae in Idaho and Oregon, and oviparae have cabbage aphid)
appeared in glasshouse cultures (Puterka
et al., 1992) but no males have been found. Lipaphis pseudobrassicae is a cosmopolitan
Puterka et al. (1993) found some genetic pest of cruciferous crops. Apterae are small to
variation in North American D. noxia using medium-sized, yellowish, grey, or olive green,
RAPD-PCR, although this was between, with a waxy bloom that, in humid condi-
rather than within, populations, suggesting tions, becomes a dense coat of white wax. It
that it was generated only by rare mutatio- can occur in large colonies on the under-
nal or recombinational events. More genetic sides of leaves or in inflorescences of many
variation was found in collections from the species and genera of Brassicaceae, includ-
Middle East, Moldavia, Ukraine, and ing Barbarea, Brassica, Capsella, Erysimum,
Kirghizia. Their data suggest a single source Iberis, Lepidium, Matthiola, Nasturtium,
of spread of D. noxia, perhaps via Turkey to Raphanus, Rorippa, Sinapis, Sisymbrium,
France, South Africa, and North America. and Thlaspi. Often, the leaves are curled and
An interesting addition to this story is that turn yellow. It is a vector of about 10 non-
Mimeur (1942) collected D. noxia in North persisent viruses, including Turnip mosaic
Africa in 1938, described it as a new species virus and Cauliflower mosaic virus. It occurs
(Cavahyalopterus graminearum), and produ- throughout the world (CIE Distribution Map
ced oviparae in culture, but no males. Thus, 203, 1965), but particularly is a pest in
the absence of males may be a long-standing warmer climates, reproducing throughout
feature of the population, which has since the year by continuous parthenogenesis.
become widely distributed. The origin and identity of L. pseudo-
There are no problems with the iden- brassicae were long in doubt. In North
tity of D. noxia, although in Europe there is America, it was at first confused with Brevi-
a very similar species, Diuraphis muehlei, coryne brassicae, until Davis (1914) recog-
which feeds specifically on Phleum pratense, nized it as distinct and named it Aphis
turning the leaves yellow. This species has pseudobrassicae. Because of its weakly cla-
a shorter antennal terminal process than vate siphunculi, it was subsequently trans-
D. noxia; the ratio of the terminal process to ferred by Takahashi (1923) to the genus
the base of the last segment in apterae is Rhopalosiphum, and it was referred to in
1.05–1.65 (muehlei), as opposed to 1.55–2.6 the economic literature as Rhopalosiphum
(noxia), and in alatae 1.2–1.9 (muehlei), as pseudobrassicae (Davis) until 1964. Börner
opposed to 1.8–2.7 (noxia). and Schilder (1932) recognized that pseudo-
There is an extensive older Russian lit- brassicae should be placed in Lipaphis, a
erature on D. noxia, one of the most com- genus erected by Mordvilko (1928) for a
prehensive studies being that of Grossheim palaearctic crucifer-feeding aphid, erysimi.
(1914). The rapid spread and great economic Lipaphis erysimi is a holocyclic species
importance of this aphid have resulted in with a 2n = 10 karyotype (Gut, 1976; Black-
more recent extensive studies; see Poprawski man and Eastop, 2000) that occurs com-
et al. (1992) for a bibliography, and general monly on wild crucifers in Northern and
accounts by Pike and Allison (1991) and Central Europe, but is not usually found on
Hughes (1996). Berest (1980) studied the Brassica crops (Müller, 1986; Heie, 1992).
parasite and predator complex of D. noxia Hille Ris Lambers (1948) could not find
14 R.L. Blackman and V.F. Eastop
be hybridized in the laboratory with Macro- on most of which the populations are highly
siphum stellariae, which is usually found dispersed and individuals are found feed-
on Stellaria holostea, and can colonize other ing singly on the older leaves. The great
plants, but not potato (Möller, 1971). economic importance of M. persicae is due
Meier (1961) provided a general account to its efficiency as a virus vector. It has been
of M. euphorbiae in Europe, Barlow (1962) shown to be able to transmit considerably
studied its development on potato, and more than 100 plant viruses, including the
MacGillivray and Anderson (1964) studied persistent viruses BLRV, Beet western yel-
the factors controlling sexual morph pro- lows virus, Beet mild yellowing virus, BYNV,
duction in eastern Canada. Parasitoids and PEMV, PLRV, Tobacco vein distorting virus,
hyperparasitoids were studied in North Tobacco yellow net virus, and Tobacco yel-
America by Shands et al. (1965) and Sulli- low vein virus. The relationship with PLRV
van and van den Bosch (1971). has received particular attention (e.g. Ponsen,
1972; Eskanderi et al., 1979). Myzus persicae
is also a very efficient vector of numerous
Myzus persicae (peach–potato aphid) non-persistent viruses; e.g. CMV and Bean
yellow mosaic virus to lupins in Western
Myzus persicae is an exceptional species in Australia (Bwye et al., 1997).
many respects; cosmopolitan, extremely poly- As its principal primary host is thought
phagous, highly efficient as a virus vector, to originate from China, one would pre-
and with a great range of genetically-based sume this to be the original homeland of
variability in properties such as colour, life M. persicae. This presumption is, however,
cycle, host-plant relationships, and meth- not without its problems. First, one might
ods of resisting insecticides. Adult apterous expect to find its closest relatives in China.
parthenogenetic females of M. persicae are Yet the species that seem most closely
small to medium-sized, pale greenish-yellow, related to M. persicae, including what many
various shades of green, pink, red, or almost would regard as its sibling species, Myzus
black (apart from the genetically-determined certus, and others with which it readily
colour variation, any one genotype will be hybridizes in the laboratory such as Myzus
more deeply pigmented in cold conditions). myosotidis, are all European. It is difficult
Alatae have a shiny black dorsal abdominal to see how this situation arose. There are
patch, as in other members of the genus no clues from biology, as all other species in
Myzus, and immature alatae are often red or the Myzus subgenus Nectarosiphon except
pink, even of genotypes where the apterae M. persicae have lost their ancestral pri-
are green. Immature males are always some mary host and live all year round on their
shade of yellow or yellow-green. herbaceous host plants. A second problem
The sexual phase of M. persicae occurs concerns the relationship of M. persicae
predominantly on Prunus persica (includ- with PLRV, which seems to be intimate and
ing v. nectarina), except in parts of north- therefore long-standing, but this is in
eastern USA and eastern Canada, where conflict with their respective origins. It
Prunus nigra is the main primary host (Shands is possible, however, that potato leaf
et al., 1969). Host alternation occurs in the roll occurs in some unrecognizable or
temperate regions of all continents, wher- symptomless form in an Asian member of
ever peaches are available and the autumn the Solanaceae.
temperatures are low enough to allow pro- As might be expected of such an adapt-
duction of the sexual morphs (Blackman, able and fast-evolving genome, biology and
1974). Spring populations on peach become host relationships are likely to be changing
very dense, severely curling the leaves. In faster than morphology, causing problems
contrast to its extreme primary host speci- of identification and identity. Specimens of
ficity, the secondary hosts are in more than M. certus on slides are difficult enough to
40 different plant families. They include distinguish from those of M. persicae, althou-
very many economically important plants, gh this species is clearly very different in its
16 R.L. Blackman and V.F. Eastop
biology and host relations (living all year on Apterae on tobacco are predominantly pink/
Caryophyllaceae and Violaceae, and having red in colour, and have acquired resistance
its sexual phase on these plants, with apterous to insecticides far more slowly than those
males). Two other taxa, Myzus dianthicola on other crops (Takada, 1979; Semtner et al.,
and Myzus antirrhinii, are even more like 1990). Blackman (1987) demonstrated using
M. persicae, and individual slide-mounted multiple discriminant analysis that samples
specimens cannot be distinguished reliably from tobacco in many parts of the world
from that species. These two are both per- could be differentiated from M. persicae on
manently parthenogenetic as far as is other crops, indicating that populations on
known, and their karyotypes are structurally tobacco worldwide constituted a monophy-
heterozygous (Blackman, 1980). Myzus dian- letic lineage for which he proposed the name
thicola is found only on Dianthus, usually Myzus nicotianae. Most of the samples ana-
in glasshouses, where its consistently deep lysed by Blackman (1987) were from regions
yellow-green colour and the leaf chlorosis where populations are permanently parthe-
that it causes distinguish it respectively nogenetic, but Margaritopoulos et al. (2000)
from M. certus and M. persicae. Myzus found that holocyclic populations of tobacco
antirrhinii may be almost as polyphagous as aphids in Greece could also be discrimina-
M. persicae, but has certain characteristic ted from those collected from other crops,
hosts such as Antirrhinum and Buddleja and and from peach away from tobacco-growing
a more consistent mid-green to dark green col- regions. It has been suggested (Clements
our, and there are also differences in et al., 2000a) that these morphological differ-
allozymes and at rDNA and microsatellite ences could be due to phenotypic plasticity.
loci (Fenton et al., 1998; Terradot et al., However, it is clear that the differences are
1999). Both M. dianthicola and M. antirrhinii genetically-based, as all the samples analysed
are found in Europe and North America, the were clones reared under controlled condi-
former also being found in New Zealand tions on the same host plant. The clones origi-
and the latter in Australia. Although probably nating from peach in tobacco-growing regions
of recent origin, they seem to be isolated had never even seen a tobacco plant.
from other members of the group by their Genetic isolation between tobacco-
obligate parthenogenesis, and are therefore adapted and non-tobacco-adapted forms can-
best treated as discrete taxa (Blackman and not be complete, as the E4 and FE4 genes
Brown, 1991). The karyotype of M. antirrhinii amplified in insecticide-resistant aphids
is remarkably variable, and is of cytogenetic are identical in the two forms (Field et al.,
interest because fusions and dissociations of 1994). However, these genes apparently have
chromosomes have occurred in the absence taken many years to cross into tobacco aphids.
of genetic recombination (Hales et al., 2000). For example, holocyclic populations of M.
Although complicating the practical persicae on peach in Southern Europe have
identification of M. persicae, none of the been resistant to organophosphates since
forms discussed above have questionable about 1962, yet such resistance in tobacco
taxonomic status. However, for many years aphids was first reported in holocyclic pop-
it has been recognized that populations of ulations in northern Greece in the mid-
M. persicae on tobacco (the ‘tobacco aphid’) 1980s. This may be where introgression of
are distinct from populations on other these genes into tobacco-adapted genotypes
plants (de Jong, 1929; Brain, 1942; Müller, occurred, selection then strongly favouring
1958; Takada, 1986). The aphid attacking their spread to other populations. Absence
commercial varieties of Nicotiana tabacum of complete reproductive isolation between
forms large, dense colonies at the growing the two forms, perhaps in conjunction with
points and on the youngest leaves, and a very recent origin of the tobacco-adapted
seems able to avoid or tolerate the exudates form, may explain the failure to find consis-
of the glandular trichomes, which are not tent diagnostic genetic markers (Fenton
only sticky but contain repellent or toxic et al., 1998; Margaritopoulos et al., 1998;
chemicals (Georgieva, 1998; Wang et al., 2001). Clements et al., 2000a,b), or the divergence
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Kieron whirled and caught Freka's blade on his own. The courtiers
drew back, giving them room to fight. No one made a move to
interfere. It was known that Valkyrs had sacked the city of Neg, and
according to the warrior code the two warlords must be allowed to
fight to the death if they wished.
Kieron made no attack. Instead he retreated before the
expressionless Freka.
"Did you know, Freka," asked Kieron softly, "that Geller of the
Marshes is dead? He was your father in a way, wasn't he?"
Freka made no reply, and for a moment the only sound in the hushed
chamber was the ring of blades.
Suddenly Kieron lunged. His sword pierced Freka from breast to back.
The Valkyr stepped back and pulled his blade clear. The crowd
gasped, for Freka the Unknown did not fall....
"Are you really unkillable?" breathed Kieron. "I wonder!"
Again he lunged under the mechanical guard of the Kalgan. Again his
blade sank deep. Freka backed away for a moment, still alert and
unwounded.
Kieron shouted derisively at the star-kings: "Great warriors! Do you
see? You have followed the leadership of an android! A homunculus
spawned by the warlock Geller!"
A gasping roar went up in the chamber. A sound of superstitious
horror and growing anger.
Kieron parried a thrust and brought his blade down on Freka's sword
arm. Hard. A sword clattered to the flagstones—still gripped by a
slowly relaxing hand. There was no blood. The android still moved in,
eyes expressionless, his one hand reaching for his enemy. Kieron
struck again. A clean cut opened from shoulder to belly, slicing the
artificial tendons and leaving the android helpless but still erect.
Kieron raised and lowered his blade in glittering arcs. Freka ... or the
thing that had been Freka ... collapsed in a grotesque heap. Still it
moved. Kieron passed his point again and again through the
quivering mass until at long last it was still. Somewhere a woman
fainted.
A thick silence fell over the assemblage. All eyes turned to Ivane. She
stood staring at the remnants of the thing that had been ... almost ...
a man. Her hand fluttered at her throat.
Alys' voice cut through the heavy stillness. "Arrest that woman for the
murder of my brother Toran!"
But the crowd of courtiers was thinking of other things. Jaded and
cynical, they had seen with their own eyes that Ivane was a familiar
of the dreaded Great Destroyer. Someone cried: "Witch! Burn her!"
The mass of courtiers and warriors swept forward, screaming for the
kill. Kieron leaped for the dais, his sword still bared.
"I'll kill the first one who sets foot on the Great Throne!" he cried.
But Ivane had heard the crowd sounds. The black mantle slipped
from her shoulders, and she stood stripped to the waist, like a marble
goddess—her eyes recapturing some of their icy hauteur. Then,
before she could be stopped, she had taken a jewelled dagger and
driven it deep into her breast.
Kieron caught her as she fell, feeling the warm blood staining his
hands. He eased her down on the foot of the Great Throne and laid
his ear to her breast.
There was no pulse. Ivane was dead.
Before the assembled Court, the Warlord of Valkyr knelt before his
Empress. The star-kings had gone, and the Valkyrs were the last
outworld warriors remaining in the Imperial City. Now, they too,
would take their leave.
The Empress sat on the Great Throne, mantled in sable. Somehow,
the huge throne and the vast vaulted chamber seemed to make her
look small and frail.
"Your Imperial Majesty," said Kieron, "have we your leave to go?"
Alys' eyes were bright with tears. She leaned forward so that none
but Kieron might hear. "Stay a while yet, Kieron. At least let us say
our goodbyes alone and not ..." She looked about the crowded
Throne Room, "... not here."
Kieron shook his head mutely. Aloud, he said again, "Have I Your
Majesty's permission to return to Valkyr?"
"Kieron...!" whispered Alys. "Please...."
He looked up at her once, pain in his eyes, but he did not speak.
Alys knew then that the gulf had opened between them again; that
this time, it was for the rest of their lives. The tears came and
streaked her cheek as she lifted her head and spoke for all the Court
to hear.
"Permission is granted, My Lord of Valkyr. You ... you may return to
Valkyr." And then she whispered, "And my love goes with you,
Kieron!"
Kieron raised her jewelled hands to his lips and kissed them.... Then
he arose and turned on his heel to stride swiftly from the Great Hall.
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