Periphyllus testudinaceus (Fernie, 1852)

Morphological characters

2.4-3.1 mm.
Apterous: blackish to brownish green with numerous long hairs, dark sclerites on dorsum, cornicles short and dark at tip.
Alate: with broad dark stripes on abdomen in both dorsal and ventral positions; marginal sclerites highly pigmented, cornicles short and dark, cylindrical, cauda semi-circular.
Larvae appear in summer: pale green to light yellow, flattened shape.

See identification file

Life cycles

Monoecious holocyclic

Host plants

Acer spp, more particularly Acer campestre, field maple, Acer pseudoplatanus, sycamore, and occasionally Aesculus hippocastanum, horse chestnut.

Particular characteristics

In springtime the colonies of Periphyllus testudinaceus form on young shoots before moving onto the underside of developed leaves. The individuals are blackish to dark green. This species, which produces enormous quantities of honeydew, is visited by ants.
In June the alates produce dimorphic summer larvae (see 4^th photo). They are light-colored, flat in shape and show a fringe of lateral leaf-shaped hairs. They estivate along the principal leaf veins. These larvae resume their development in autumn to produce the sexuparae. The eggs are laid after mating by the male and female.