Identification key for frequent aphids on Poaceae

1

 - Aphid with cornicles long and black → 2

 - Aphid with cornicles not black → 3

2

 - Antennae longer than body and cornicles 2 times longer than cauda; apterous and alate apple green, more or less yellowish or pink; colonies principally located on leaves
Sitobion fragariae

 - Antennae shorter than the body and cornicles not longer than 1.5 times cauda; apterous and alate colour variable (light green, pink or brown); colonies located on leaves  but especially on inflorescences of straw cereals and forage Poaceae
Sitobion avenae

3

 - Cornicles medium length (3/4 of distance between their points of insertion), straight and light-coloured, antennae same length as body → 4

 - Cornicles cylindrical, short(1/2 of distance between their points of insertion) with a constriction at tip, antennae short +/- equal to half length of the body → 5

4

 - Apterous light green, yellowish or pink often with longitudinal medial line on darker green dorsum; alate with abdomen light-coloured, cornicles pale but darkened at tip
Metopolophium dirhodum

 - Apterous uniform yellowish green to pink, with cornicles pale and antennae gradually darkening from base towards the tip; alate with pigmented transverse stripes on abdomen, marginal sclerites clearly visible
Metopolophium festucae

5

 - Apterous dark olive-tinged green, with a broad rusty coloured patch at base of cornicles; alate with abdomen bearing circular marginal sclerites and post-cornicular
sclerites
Rhopalosiphum padi

 - Apterous yellow-green, devoid of rusty patch; apterous and alate with antennae often consisting of 5 segments, the last one with a globular base and processus terminalis often arcuate; colonies located on collar of plants
Rhopalosiphum insertum

See visual identification