First records of two Macrosiphini aphid genera new to the fauna of Serbia are presented with details on their morphology, biology, and distribution, accompanied by original photographs and illustrations. Ammiaphis sii (Koch, 1855) was recorded for the first time on Falcaria vulgaris near Grocka and in the central Banat district, and Brachycorynella asparagi (Mordvilko, 1929) on Asparagus verticillatus in Zrenjanin and on A. officinalis in Slankamen. There is now a total of 397 species of aphids in Serbia

Petrović-Obradović, Olivera

Tomić, Mihajlo

English

University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology: Open Journal Systems

 Acta Entomologica Serbica, 2025, 30(2): xx-xx UDC: DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17243112    TWO APHID SPECIES AND GENERA OF THE TRIBE MACROSIPHINI (HEMIPTERA: APHIDIDAE) NEW TO THE FAUNA OF SERBIA   MIHAJLO TOMIĆ* and OLIVERA PETROVIĆ-OBRADOVIĆ  University of Belgrade - Faculty of Agriculture, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Belgrade-Zemun, Serbia  *E-mail: tomicmihajlo900@gmail.com (corresponding author)    Abstract  First records of two Macrosiphini aphid genera new to the fauna of Serbia are presented with details on their morphology, biology, and distribution, accompanied by original photographs and illustrations. Ammiaphis sii (Koch, 1855) was recorded for the first time on Falcaria vulgaris near Grocka and in the central Banat district, and Brachycorynella asparagi (Mordvilko, 1929) on Asparagus verticillatus in Zrenjanin and on A. officinalis in Slankamen. There is now a total of 397 species of aphids in Serbia.  KEYWORDS: aphids, fauna, first record, pest, virus vector   Introduction  Macrosiphini is the largest tribe in the subfamily Aphidinae with 255 genera and 2,363 species (Favret, 2025). Species of this tribe can be distinguished by the distance between the stigmal pores on abdominal segments I and II, which is 3 x the diameter of a stigmal pore and usually less than half the distance between pores on segments II and III. If the distance is greater, the stigmal pores are circular and very large. Marginal tubercles are rarely present on abdominal segments I and VII and are smaller than those on segments II-V (Heie, 1980).  The genus Ammiaphis Börner belongs to the tribe Macrosiphini and has one described species: Ammiaphis sii (Koch, 1885). This species is characterized by its well-developed marginal tubercles on abdominal tergites I-V and the presence of secondary rhinaria in apterae (Favret & Aphid taxon Community, eds., 2025). Its host plant is Falcaria vulgaris; colonies feed on stems and in leaf sheaths, causing sheath swelling and leaf curling and twisting (Favret & Aphid taxon Community, eds., 2025).  2 M. TOMIĆ & O. PETROVIĆ-OBRADOVIĆ  The genus Brachycorynella Aizenberg is a small genus in the tribe Macrosiphini with 2 described species: Brachycorynella asparagi (Mordvilko, 1929) and Brachycorynella lonicerina (Shaposhnikov) (Favret & Aphid taxon Community, eds., 2025). They resemble Brachycolus but differ by having shorter antennae and processus terminalis, as well as very short conical siphunculi (Favret & Aphid taxon Community, eds., 2025). Brachycorynella asparagi is associated with Asparagus spp., while Brachycorynella lonicerina is associated with Lonicera spp. migrating to an unknown secondary host (Favret & Aphid taxon Community, eds., 2025).  Brachycorynella asparagi is a known pest of asparagus, causing severe rosetting, stunting, and shortening of internodes and leaves. It is a vector of Beet mild yellowing virus (BMYV) and Turnip yellows virus (TuYV) (Favret & Aphid taxon Community, eds., 2025; Heie, 1990; Schliephake et al., 2000). Infestations delay flowering and reduce root growth, while heavy infestations can kill seedlings or small plants (Morrison et al., 2014). Feeding damage may cause dwarfed subsequent growth, premature bud break, crown dieback in nursery fields, and loss of yield and stand, although costs of control have been estimated to be less than 10% of the total production costs per acre (Folwell et al., 1990). The aim of this paper is to report the first records of Brachycorynella asparagi and Ammiaphis sii in Serbia, with data on their morphology, biology, and distribution.   Materials and Methods  Aphids were collected from the leaves and stems of their host plants during 2012, 2022, and 2023. Specimens were fixed in Oudeman’s fluid in Eppendorf tubes and mounted in Canada balsam and Keifer’s F medium. They were examined and measured using a stereomicroscope (Leica, Type: DMLS2), with illustrations prepared using a camera lucida. Measurements are in millimeters. Microscopic slides were deposited in the collection of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, and in the first author’s private collection.  Material studied:  Ammiaphis sii  Beograd, Grocka, Umčari, 09.06.2012, 5 apterous viviparous females found on Falcaria vulgaris, (leg. M. Janković), Kovačica, Crepaja, 24.06.2022, 2 apterous viviparous females and 2 alate viviparous females found on Falcaria vulgaris (leg. N. Popović); Sečanj, between Jarkovac and Neuzina, 17.06.2023, 9 apterous viviparous females and 4 alate viviparous females (leg. D. Smiljanić); Kovačica, Padina, 17.06.2023, 8 alate viviparous females found on Falcaria vulgaris, (leg. D. Smiljanić).  Brachycorynella asparagi  Zrenjanin, Bagljaš, 31.07.2022, 1 apterous viviparous female on Asparagus verticillatus (leg. I. Pančić); Slankamen, Srem, 07.07.2025, 10 apterous viviparous females and 2 alate viviparous females found on Asparagus officinalis (leg. D. Smiljanić).   Results  Two new genera of the tribe Macrosiphini are newly recorded for the fauna of Serbia. Ammiaphis sii was first discovered near Grocka in 2012, and Brachycorynella asparagi was first recorded in Zrenjanin in 2022.   Ammiaphis sii (Koch, 1885) – Sickleweed aphid  Two aphid species and genera of the tribe Macrosiphini new to the fauna of Serbia  3  Morphology:   Apterous viviparous female (Figs 1, 2, Table I) (n=9)    Figure 1. Ammiaphis sii (Koch, 1885) apterous viviparous female on Falcaria vulgaris (Photo: M. Tomić).   When alive, the body is yellow-green mottled with dark green patches and with green antesiphuncular spots. Basal halves of antennae are pale yellow and distal halves black. Legs are pale yellow, except for black apices of tibiae and tarsi. Siphunculi are black, and cauda is pale. When mounted, pale with brown distal halves of antennae, apices of tibiae, tarsi, and siphunculi. Body length 1.47-1.83 mm and 1.45-1.76 times as long as wide. Antennae 5 or 6 segmented, 0.44-0.62 times body length. Antennal segment III with 5-15 secondary rhinaria (1 examined specimen with 0 secondary rhinaria) and segment IV with 0-3 secondary rhinaria. Processus terminalis 1.66-2.73 times the length of base. Ultimate rostral segment with 2 accessory setae, 0.86-1.00 times the length of second hind tarsal segment. Abdominal segments I-V with large, flat, and round marginal and spinal tubercles. First tarsal segment with 2 or 3 setae. Dorsal setae short and blunt. Siphunculi long, cylindrical or slightly swollen distally, 1.27-2.09 times the length of cauda. Cauda pointed with 0 setae (possibly the setae have broken off).  4 M. TOMIĆ & O. PETROVIĆ-OBRADOVIĆ    Figure 2. Illustration of the apterous viviparous female of Ammiaphis sii (Koch, 1885) (left - dorsal side, right-ventral side).   Alate viviparous females (Figs 3, 4, Table I) (n=12)   When alive, the body is yellow-green with dark green abdominal patches and green antesiphuncular spots. Head, antennae, and thorax are black. Fore legs are mostly pale except for the apices of tibiae and tarsi. Middle and hind legs are mostly black except for the basal parts of femora and tibiae, which are light brown. When mounted, with brown head, antennae, and thorax. The abdomen is pale with brown siphunculi. Body length 1.38-2.84 mm, 1.61-2.27 times as long as wide. Antennae 5 or 6 segmented, 0.72-0.98 times body length. Antennal segments III, IV, and V with 18-35, 1-9, and 0-1 secondary rhinaria, respectively. Processus terminalis 2.62-3.88 times the length of base. Ultimate rostral segment with 2-3 accessory setae, 0.76-1.00 times the length of second hind tarsal segment. Abdominal segments I-V with large, flat, and round marginal and spinal tubercles. First tarsal segment with 2 or 3 setae. Siphunculi long, cylindrical or slightly swollen, 1.50-2.25 times the length of cauda. Cauda pointed with 0-6 setae.    Biology:  Ammiaphis sii (Koch, 1885) is monoecious, holocyclic on Falcaria vulgaris (Börner, 1952 as cited in Favret & Aphid taxon Community, eds., 2025). In Serbia, sexual morphs and eggs have not been recorded. Since sampling took place in late spring, the species is likely holocyclic. Two aphid species and genera of the tribe Macrosiphini new to the fauna of Serbia  5    Table I. Measurements of Ammiaphis sii.  Character Ammiaphis sii aptera (n=9) Ammiaphis sii alata (n=12) Body length (mm) 1.47-1.83 1.38-2.84 Body width (mm) 0.89-1.20 0.77-0.92 Head width across eyes (mm) 0.38-0.43 0.34-0.38 Antennae full length (mm) 0.71-1.00 1.02-1.52 ANT I length (mm) 0.06-0.08 0.07-0.09 ANT II length (mm) 0.05-0.07 0.06-0.07 ANT III length (mm) 0.21-0.41 0.27-0.58 ANT IV length (mm) 0.08-0.12 0.11-0.17 ANT V length (mm) 0.09-0.12 0.08-0.18 ANT VI length (mm) 0.23-0.36 0.40-0.51 ANT base (mm) 0.09-0.10 0.08-0.13 ANT PT length (mm) 0.15-0.27 0.29-0.39 URS (mm) 0.10-0.11 0.10-0.13 URS (No. od setae) 2 2-3 Hind femur (mm) 0.30-0.40 0.28-0.46 Hind tibia (mm) 0.52-0.66 0.61-0.88 2HT (mm) 0.11-0.13 0.12-0.15 SIPH (mm) 0.27-0.39 0.19-0.36 Cauda (mm) 0.16-0.23 0.10-0.19 Cauda (No. of setae) / 0-6 Rhinaria III count (0-)5-15 18-35 Rhinaria IV count 0-3 1-9 Rhinaria V count 0 0-1 Antennae/body 0.44-0.62 0.72-0.98 Body length/width 1.45-1.76 1.61-2.27 PT/BASE 1.66-2.73 2.62-3.88 URS/2HT 0.86-1.00 0.76-1.00 SIPH/cauda 1.27-2.09 1.50-2.25   Distribution:  In Europe, it has been recorded in Austria, Italy, Spain, Germany, Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, Czechia, Poland, Netherlands, and Slovakia (GBIF Secretariat, 2023; Müller, 1986; Osiadacz & Hałaj, 2009; PESI, 2025; Ripka, 2008; Wojciechowski et al., 2016). In Asia, it has been recorded in Iran, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan (GBIF Secretariat, 2023; Favret & Aphid taxon Community, eds., 2025).    6 M. TOMIĆ & O. PETROVIĆ-OBRADOVIĆ    Figure 3. Ammiaphis sii (Koch, 1885): alate viviparous female on Falcaria vulgaris (Photo: M. Tomić).     Figure 4. Illustration of the alate viviparous female of Ammiaphis sii (Koch, 1885) (left - dorsal side, right-ventral side).   Two aphid species and genera of the tribe Macrosiphini new to the fauna of Serbia  7  Brachycorynella asparagi (Mordvilko, 1929) – European asparagus aphid     Figure 5. Brachycorynella asparagi (Mordvilko, 1929): apterous viviparous female from Asparagus verticillatus (Photo: I. Pančić).   Morphology:   Apterous viviparous female (Fig. 5, Table II) (n=11)  When alive, green with pale antennae, legs, and cauda. When mounted, unpigmented. Body length 1.14-1.51 mm, 1.47-1.92 times as long as wide. Antennae 5 or 6 segmented, rarely 4 segmented, 0.28-0.41 times body length. Processus terminalis 1.20-1.55 times the base. Ultimate rostral segment with 4 accessory setae, 0.63-0.85 times the length of second hind tarsal segment. First tarsal segment formula 3:3:2. Dorsal setae short and blunt. Siphunculi conical, 0.10-0.18 times the length of cauda. Cauda tongue-shaped with 7-10 setae.  Alate viviparous female (Fig. 6, Table II) (n=2) 8 M. TOMIĆ & O. PETROVIĆ-OBRADOVIĆ    Figure 6. Brachycorynella asparagi (Mordvilko, 1929): clarified slide mount of alate viviparous female from Asparagus officinalis (photo by Mihajlo Tomić).   When alive, green. When mounted, with pale brownish head, antennae, and thorax. The abdomen is pale. The legs are pale, except for the apices of tibiae, which are light brown. Body length 1.43-1.56 mm, 2.40 times body width. Antennae 6 segmented, 0.61-0.74 times body length. Antennal segment III with 10-15 secondary rhinaria. Processus terminalis 2.23-2.36 times the base. Ultimate rostral segment with 4 accessory setae, 0.71-0.74 times the length of second hind tarsal segment. First tarsal segment formula 3:3:2. Siphunculi short, conical, 0.22-0.27 times the length of cauda. Cauda tongue-shaped with 7 setae.  Biology:  Brachycorynella asparagi (Mordvilko, 1929) has been recorded on 8 species of Asparagus: A. aethiopicus, A. brachyphyllus, A. neglectus, A. officinalis, A. orientalis, A. persicus, A. setaceus, and A. tenuifolius (Favret & Aphid taxon Community, eds., 2025). In Serbia, it has been recorded on A. officinalis and A. verticillatus. The species is monoecious and holocyclic with alate males (Favret & Aphid taxon Community, eds., 2025). In Serbia, sexual morphs and eggs have not been observed, as sampling took place during summer, but it is likely holocyclic.   Distribution:  In Europe, North Africa, south-west and Central Asia, China, and introduced into North America and Canada (GBIF Secretariat, 2023; Favret & Aphid taxon Community, eds., 2025). In Europe, it has been recorded in Italy, Spain, France, Poland, Switzerland, Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldavia, Ukraine, and Russia (Jörg & Lampel, 1988; Osiadacz & Hałaj, 2009; PESI, 2025; Ripka, 2008; Wojciechowski et al. 2016). Two aphid species and genera of the tribe Macrosiphini new to the fauna of Serbia  9  Table II. Measurements of Brachycorynella asparagi.  Character Brachycorynella asparagi aptera (n=11) Brachycorynella asparagi alata (n=2) Body length (mm) 1.14-1.51 1.43-1.56 Body width (mm) 0.63-0.86 0.60-0.66 Head width across eyes (mm) 0.27-0.36 0.30-0.36 Antennae full length (mm) 0.40-0.58 0.93-1.1 ANT I length (mm) 0.04-0.06 0.06-0.07 ANT II length (mm) 0.04-0.05 0.06 ANT III length (mm) 0.10-0.24 0.29-0.31 ANT IV length (mm) 0.04-0.07 0.12-0.14 ANT V length (mm) 0.05-0.07 0.11-0.13 ANT VI length (mm) 0.14-0.19 0.27-0.39 ANT base (mm) 0.06-0.08 0.08-0.12 ANT PT length (mm) 0.08-0.11 0.19-0.27 URS (mm) 0.07-0.09 0.08 URS (No. od setae) 4 4 Hind femur (mm) 0.22-0.28 0.30-0.33 Hind tibia (mm) 0.32-0.40 0.56-0.58 2HT (mm) 0.10-0.13 0.11-0.12 SIPH (mm) 0.02-0.03 0.03-0.04 Cauda (mm) 0.14-0.17 0.12-0.14 Cauda (No. of setae) 7-10 7 Rhinaria III count 0 10-15 Rhinaria IV count 0 0 Rhinaria V count 0 0 Antennae/body 0.28-0.41 0.61-0.74 Body length/width 1.47-1.92 2.40 PT/BASE 1.20-1.55 2.23-2.36 URS/2HT 0.63-0.85 0.71-0.74 SIPH/cauda 0.10-0.18 0.22-0.27   Conclusion  Ammiaphis sii was first recorded on Falcaria vulgaris in Serbia in 2012 and Brachycorynella asparagi was found for the first time on Asparagus verticillatus in 2022 and on Asparagus officinalis in 2025. Both species are monoecious, but their overwintering in Serbia remains unknown, likely holocyclic. B. asparagi is not expected to cause significant damage or yield losses. With these two new records, the total number of aphid species known in Serbia rises to 397.    Acknowledgements  The research was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, through contract number 451-03-137/2025-03/200116 with the Faculty of Agriculture – University of Belgrade. The authors express their gratitude to Ivan Pančić for collecting and sending the 10 M. TOMIĆ & O. PETROVIĆ-OBRADOVIĆ  specimen of Brachycorynella asparagi, Marina Janković and Nemanja Popović for collecting and sending the specimens of Ammiaphis sii, and to Dragica Smiljanić for collecting aphids and making illustrations.   References  Favret, C. & Aphid Taxon Community, eds. (2025) Blackman & Eastop’s Aphids on the World’s Plants, version 1.0. Retreived from: https://aphidsonworldsplants.info/ on 18.5.2025. Favret, C. (2025). Aphid Species File. Version 5.0/5.0. 17.5.2025. http://Aphid.SpeciesFile.org  Folwell, R. J., Gefre, J. A., Lutz, S. M., Halfhill, J. E., & Tamaki, G. (1990). Methods and costs of suppressing Brachycorynella asparagi Mordvilko (Homoptera: Aphididae). Crop Protection, 9(4), 259-264. GBIF Secretariat (2023). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset. Retreived from: https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org. [Accessed on: 18.05.2025]. Heie, O. E. (1990). The Aphidoidea (Hemiptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark, Volume I. General part. The Families Mindaridae, Hormaphididae, Thelaxidae, Anoeciidae and Pemphigidae. 240 pp. Heie, O. E. (1990). The Aphidoidea (Hemiptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark, Volume IV. Family Aphididae: Part 1 of Tribe Macrosiphini of Subfamily Aphidinae. 189 pp. Jörg, E., & Lampel, G. (1988). Xerothermophile Aphiden der Schweiz und angrenzender Gebiete mit besonderer Berücksichtigung des Kantons Wallis (Homoptera, Aphidina). Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesellschaft, 61(1-2), 43-88. Morrison, W. R., Linderman, S., Hausbeck, M. K., Werling, B. P., & Szendrei, Z. (2014). Disease and insect pests of asparagus. Extension Bulletin e3219, Michigan State University. 1-8.  Müller, FP (1986). Faunistic-ecological studies on aphids in the Kyffhäuser region. Hercynia Ecology and Environment in Central Europe, 23 (1), 94-108. Osiadacz, B., & Hałaj, R. (2009). The aphids (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aphidinea) of Poland. A distributional checklist. 96 pp. PESI (2025). Pan-European Species directories Infrastructure. Retreived from: www.eu-nomen.eu/portal, [Accessed on: 18.05.2025]. Ripka, G. (2008). Checklist of the Aphidoidea and Phylloxeroidea of Hungary (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha). Folia entomologica hungarica, 69, 19-157. Schliephake, E., Graichen, K., & Rabenstein, F. (2000). Investigations on the vector transmission of the Beet mild yellowing virus (BMYV) and the Turnip yellows virus (TuYV)/Untersuchungen zur Vektoruebertragung des Milden Ruebenvergilbungsvirus (Beet mild yellowing virus) und des Wasserruebenvergilbungsvirus (Turnip yellows virus). Zeitschrift für Pflanzenkrankheiten und Pflanzenschutz/Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection, 81-87. Wojciechowski, W., Depa, Ł., Halgoš, J., Matečný, I., Lukáš, J., & Kanturski, M. (2016). Aphids of Slovakia. Distributional catalogue, checklist, keys and list of host plants. Comenius University in Bratislava Faculty of Natural Sciences, Bratislava, 344 pp.        Two aphid species and genera of the tribe Macrosiphini new to the fauna of Serbia  11  ДВЕ ВРСТЕ И РОДА ИЗ ТРИБУСА MACROSIPHINI (HEMIPTERA: APHIDIDAE) НОВЕ ЗА ФАУНУ СРБИЈЕ   МИХАЈЛО ТОМИЋ и ОЛИВЕРА ПЕТРОВИЋ-ОБРАДОВИЋ    Извод  Први налази два нова рода биљних ваши за фауну Србије из трибуса Macrosiphini (Hemiptera: Aphididae) су публиковани са детаљима о њиховој морфологији, биологији и распрострањености са оригиналним фотографијама и илустрацијама. Ammiaphis sii (Koch, 1885) је први пут регистрована на Falcaria vulgaris у околини Гроцке и у Средњебанатском округу, a Brachycorynella asparagi (Koch, 1885) је први пут регистрована на Asparagus verticillatus у Зрењанину и на A. officinalis у Сланкамену. У Србији је сада регистровано укупно 397 врста биљних ваши.     Received: August 27th, 2025 Accepted: September 16th, 2025 

TWO APHID SPECIES AND GENERA OF THE TRIBE MACROSIPHINI (HEMIPTERA: APHIDIDAE) NEW TO THE FAUNA OF SERBIA

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TWO APHID SPECIES AND GENERA OF THE TRIBE MACROSIPHINI (HEMIPTERA: APHIDIDAE) NEW TO THE FAUNA OF SERBIA

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