B. cardui

Brachycaudus cardui (Linnaeus, 1758)

Plum-thistle aphid

Brachycaudus cardui : adulte aptère
Brachycaudus cardui : adulte ailé
Brachycaudus cardui : adulte aptère et larves

Morphological characters

1.6-2.6 mm.
Apterous: globular, yellow green, dorsal patch glossy.
Alate: antennae with processus terminalis long, abdomen with dark patch, cornicles dark and medium length, cauda short and rounded.

See identification file

Life cycles

Dioecious holocyclic

Host plants

Primary hosts: Prunus domestica (plum), Prunus spinosa (blackthorn), Prunus avium (wild cherry), Prunus armeniaca (apricot).
Secondary hosts: Asteraceae: Cynara (artichoke), Chrysanthemum (chrysanthemum) but also Borraginaceae.

Particular characteristics

Agronomic impact

B. cardui deforms plum tree leaves by rolling up the blade.

Ennemis naturels

Parasitoids