C. leucomelas

Chaitophorus leucomelas Koch, 1854

Black poplar leaf aphid

Chaitophorus leucomelas : adulte aptère et colonie
Chaitophorus leucomelas : adulte ailé

Morphology

1.2-2.4 mm.
Apterous: with numerous hairs, green with dark stripes interrupted in central part and cornicles black.
Alate: with broad dark stripes on abdomen and marginal sclerites highly pigmented, cornicles short, cylindrical and dark, cauda knobbed.

See identification file

Life cycles

Monoecious holocyclic 

Host plants

Populus spp, more particularly Populus nigra (black poplar) and P. nigra var. italica (Lombardy polar)

Particular characteristics

Chaitophorus leucomelas lives on underside of leaves and young shoots.
In spring, colonies are visited by ants.