Large rose aphid

Large rose aphid
Great rose aphid ( Macrosiphum rosae )
Systematics
Class : Insects (Insecta) Order : Schnabelkerfe (Hemiptera) Subordination : Plant lice (Sternorrhyncha) Family : Tube aphids (Aphididae) Genre : Macrosiphum Type : Large rose aphid
Scientific name
Macrosiphum rosae
( Linnaeus , 1758)

Different stages of development of the great rose aphid on a rose bud

Winged shape

Eggs

The great rose aphid ( Macrosiphum rosae ) is an aphid from the genus Macrosiphum of the family of the tube aphids (Aphididae). It feeds on the sap of various types of roses ( Rosa spp.), Cardinal (Dipsaceae) and valerian plants (Valerianoideae).

features

The large rose aphid has a 3–4 mm long spindle-shaped body with a black head. It comes in two color variants, green or pink. The black antennae are usually about as long as the body or a little longer. The two approximately 1 mm long siphons ( siphunculi ), from which secretions are released in stressful situations or when threatened, are black and about twice as long as the light-colored tail ( cauda ) at the end of the abdomen. The thighs ( femora ) are dark brown or black at the distal end facing away from the body at least for a quarter of their length.

Way of life and distribution

In autumn, the large rose aphid can often be found en masse on the tips of roses. Here it lays black eggs (about 1.3 mm long, 0.6 mm thick), from which wingless females hatch in spring. Several generations develop in rapid succession through parthenogenesis and live births. With the appearance of winged individuals, males and females, there is usually (but not necessarily) a change of host to cardiac plants ( widow's flowers, etc.) and valerian plants . In late summer, the aphids migrate back to roses.

The great rose aphid is found worldwide, except in East Asia and Southeast Asia. The similar species, M. mordvilkoi, is found in Japan .

literature

• Erwin Stresemann: Excursions Fauna of Germany, Volume 2: Invertebrates: Insects , 11th Edition, ed. by Bernhard Klausnitzer, Spektrum Verlag, Heidelberg 2011, ISBN 978-3-8274-2451-8
• Roger L. Blackman and Victor F. Eastop: Aphids on the World's Herbaceous Plants and Shrubs: An Identification and Information Guide 2 volumes, J. Wiley and Sons, Chichester 2006, ISBN 978-0471489733

Web links

Commons : Large Rose Aphid  Album with Pictures, Videos and Audio Files

• Distribution to Fauna Europaea

Individual evidence

1. ^ ^{A b} Systematic Treatment of aphid genera - Macrosiphum. www.aphidsonworldsplants.info - Aphids on the world's plants: an online identification and information guide, accessed on June 13, 2014 .