Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas, 1878)

Morphological characters

1.7-3.6 mm.
Apterous: green or pink, antennae longer than body.
Alate: green or pink, antennae long and pigmented; cornicles long, fine, slightly pigmented and reticulated, cauda pointed, long and pale, articulations of legs dark.

See identification file

Life cycles

Mainly anholocyclic but can be dioecious holocyclic.

Host plants

Highly polyphagous, has a preference for Solanaceae, particularly potatoes.
Primary host: Rosa (roses) .
Secondary hosts: 200 plants, 20 different families including Solanaceae, Brassicaceae, Asteraceae, Apiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Liliaceae, Fabaceae, also numerous flowering plants.

Particular characteristics

Individuals can survive all winter in the parthenogenic form as well in the wild as in sheltered environments like greenhouses and tunnels.

Agronomic impact

M. euphorbiae is a common invader of crop plants grown under shelter.
Colonies develop on leaves and peduncles of infloresences.
Their attack results in deformation and stunting of the plants.
It can transmit numerous viruses that depend on the persitent or non-persitent modes: lettuce mosaic (LMV), bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) or pea enation mosaic virus (PEMV).

Natural enemies

Parasitoids :

• Aphelinus abdominalis
• Aphelinus asychis
• Aphidius ervi
• Aphidius picipes
• Aphidius urticae
• Ephedrus plagiator
• Praon volucre
• Toxares deltiger