Capitophorus wojciechowskii - a new aphid species from Iran (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Aphididae: Macrosiphini)

A new aphid species – Capitophorus wojciechowskii sp. n. – from northern Iran, associated with Hippophae rhamnoides and Hippophae sp., belonging to the tribe Macrosiphini (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is described. The fundatrix, apterous viviparous female, oviparous female and apterous male are described and illustrated. Similarities and differences with other Capitophorus species living on Elaeagnaceae are discussed. A key to Elaeagnaceae feeding aphids from the genus Capitophorus is also provided

New Achillea-feeding species of the aphid genus Uroleucon (Hemiptera: Aphididae) from Bulgaria

An apterous viviparous female of a new aphid species Uroleucon (Uroleucon) bulgaricum sp. n. is described and compared with the similar species U. (Uroleucon) achilleae (Koch, 1865). The new species was collected by the late J. Holman in the Blagoevgrad region (SE Bulgaria), where it is associated with Achillea coarctata Poiret in Lam. (Asteraceae). The similarities and differences between other Achillea-feeding Uroleucon species are discussed. A morphological key to the species of the subgenus Uroleucon Mordvilko, 1914 in Bulgaria is presented. A modified key to the Achillea-feeding Uroleucon aphids of Blackman and Eastop is also provided

New records of an alien aphid species Tinocallis (Sappocallis) takachihoensis from countries in central and northern Europe (hemiptera, aphididae, calaphidinae)

The aphid genus Tinocallis Matsumura, 1919 (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Calaphidinae) in central and northern Europe is reviewed; it includes four species. The first records of the Asian elm aphid Tinocallis takachihoensis Higuchi, 1972 are reported from the Czech Republic, Denmark, and Poland. The record in Denmark is the first in Scandinavia. Alate viviparous females and nymphs of T. takachihoensis were collected from Ulmus glabra '‘Pendula’' (the Czech Republic and Poland) and from U. minor (Denmark) in 2017. Tinocallis takachihoensis is the fourth Tinocallis species to be recorded from Poland and together with two other species from the subgenus Sappocallis, T. nevskyi and T. saltans, is a species of alien origin. The alate viviparous females are reviewed and re-described and their affinities and distribution in central and northern Europe are discussed. A key to the European species of Tinocallis based on the characters of live and slide-mounted specimens is also given

The Mesocallis Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae) of the Korean peninsula with descriptions of two new species

This study reviewed the aphid genus Mesocallis from the Korean peninsula. A total of five species are recognized using morphological and molecular evidence, including two new species, Mesocallis (Mesocallis) carpinicola sp. nov. and M. (Paratinocallis) occulta sp. nov., one newly recorded species, M. (M.) pteleae Matsumura, 1919, and the two species M. (M.) sawashibae (Matsumura, 1917) and M. (P.) corylicola (Higuchi, 1972). Species description, illustrations and distributional and biological data were provided for all Korean Mesocallis species along with a pictorial key. Pairwise distances, a neighbor-joining tree and a median-joining network are also given

Molecular data and species diagnosis in Essigella Del Guercio, 1909 (Sternorrhyncha, Aphididae, Lachninae)

Morphological and molecular data are used to describe three new species of Essigella (Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae: Lachninae): Essigella domenechi sp. n., Essigella gagnonae sp. n., and Essigella sorenseni sp. n.; and to re-establish as valid Essigella patchae Hottes, 1957, stat. n., until now considered a synonym of E. pini Wilson, 1919. The catalogue of Essigella species is updated. This study highlights the need and utility to use discreet DNA characters in aphid species diagnoses

Impact of warm weather events on prolongation of the life cycle of Stomaphis Walker (Hemiptera, Aphididae, Lachninae)

Termination of the life cycle of sexually reproducing aphids usually takes place in autumn, during October and November, in the climatic conditions of Central Europe. However, episodes of warm weather are suspected to trigger prolongation of the life cycle. Observations of Stomaphis spp. in early winter of 2013/2014 in southern Poland support this thesis. Surprisingly, adult females of two species were collected as late as early January and early March. High daily temperatures during this period were the probable cause of aphid survival, despite frosty nights. The possibility of the influence of warm weather episodes (higher temperature) on prolongation of the life cycle in aphids, or such episodes causing permanent parthenogenesis, is discussed

Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphidomorpha) of the Botanic Garden of the Jagiellonian University, Kraków

The paper presents results of faunistic investigations of aphids (Aphidomorpha) in the Botanic Garden of the Jagiellonian University, Kraków, in the Kraków – Wieluń Upland. During two seasons of research (2011, 2012) two aphid species from the family Adelgidae and 50 species from the family Aphididae, associated with 66 host plants were recorded. The following species – Eriosoma anncharlotteae DANIELSSON, 1979, Capitophorus elaeagni (DEL GUERCIO, 1894), Rhopalosiphoninus (Neorhopalosiphoninus) staphyleae staphyleae (KOCH, 1854), Eulachnus brevipilosus BÖRNER, 1940 and E. cembrae BÖRNER, 1950 – are new for the Kraków – Wieluń Upland. Seven of the species recorded are regarded as alien to Poland

The Bhutan pine aphid Pseudessigella brachychaeta Hille Ris Lambers (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Lachninae) from India reveals the hitherto unknown oviparous female and dwarfish male

Here we describe the presence of the monotypic and poorly known aphid genus Pseudessigella Hille Ris Lambers (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Lachninae) in India. So far, the genus has only been known from Punjab, Pakistan. Representatives of P. brachychaeta Hille Ris Lambers were collected from Pinus wallichiana A.B. Jacks. in the Yousmarg region of the state of Jammu and Kashmir in India. Hitherto unknown oviparous females and dwarfish males, the latter reported in Eulachnini for the first time, are described and illustrated. The male’s antennal sensilla and genitalic morphology are additionally studied and presented using Scanning Electron Microscopy. Notes on the biology, distribution, and previously overlooked generic features are given. We provide morphological identification keys to the genera of the tribe Eulachnini and to the species of aphid living on P. wallichiana

The reproductive system of the male and oviparous female of a model organism— the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Hemiptera, Aphididae)

The structure of the reproductive system of the sexual generation—males and oviparous females—of the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Hemiptera, Aphididae), a serious pest of cultivated plants of Fabaceae, was investigated. For the first time we describe the morphology, histology and ultrastructure of the reproductive system in both morphs of the sexual generation of aphids within one species, using light and fluorescent microscopy, as well as transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The results revealed that males have testes composed of three follicles fused by the upper ends of the vasa efferentia, the vasa deferentia run independently, the accessory glands are asymmetric and the ejaculatory duct shortened. Oviparous females have ovaries composed of seven ovarioles each. The lateral oviducts join to a short common oviduct connected with the unpaired spermatheca and paired accessory glands. Yolky eggs with an aggregation of symbiotic bacteria at the posterior pole are produced. Histologically, the components of genital tracts are broadly similar: the epithelial cells of the walls of the vasa deferentia and accessory glands of the male and oviparous female have secretory functions which correlate with the age of the studied morphs. We also found symbiotic bacteria within the vasa deferentia epithelial cells in males and within the cells of the lateral oviducts of females. Because the pea aphid is listed among the 14 species that are of the greatest economic importance, our results will be useful for managing aphid populations, protecting plants and ensuring global food security

Atypical, ventro-ventral copulation position in aphids of the genus Stomaphis Walker, 1870 (Insecta, Hemiptera)

Firm matching of genitals during copulation is of critical importance to effective insemination and thus, gene flow. During the evolution of insects, an effective position during copulation promoted higher fecundity through control over the act of mating or elimination of competitors. Usually during insect copulation, either twisting or flexing of the male abdomen occurs, and genitals remain symmetrically or asymmetrically disposed following changes in the mating position. However, it is always the dorsal side of the male genitalia that makes contact with the ventral side of female abdomen. Here we present the unusual case of a ‘belly-to-belly’ copulation, with symmetrically positioned male genitals and no twisting of the abdomen. During the mating of two species in the Stomaphis genus of large, tree dwelling aphids, the dwarfish male is attached to the underside of the female, with the ventral part of its genitals contacting the ventral part of female abdomen, and the aedeagus effectively inserted into the female genital organs. Interestingly, congeneric species do not exhibit this sort of mating, but differences in the genital plates of females, between species, may play an important role. These observations raise many questions concerning the possible dominant role of the female during mating and later, during mate guarding by male, which can lead to monandry in this generally polyandrous group of insects. It is possible that this sort of mating is either an adaptation to the competitive behaviour of other males or a consequence of the obligatory mutualistic relationship with ants, and the adaptation to specialised ecological niches enforced by this relationship. If ants do influence the mating habits of Stomaphis then it is possible that speciation in this group of insects, and phytophagous insects generally, is partially driven by their relationship with ants