Caricosipha (aphids) identification, images, ecology

Caricosipha [Siphini]

Caricosipha are flattened pear-shaped aphids, broadest about the level of tergite 4. The dorsum and most of the venter are blackish sclerotic, with abdominal tergites 1-7 fused into a solid carapace. The head capsule is fused with the pronotum; the mesonotum, metanotum and abdominal tergite 8 are free. The antennae are mainly pale and the antennal tubercles are very low. Antennal hairs are nearly all long. The compound eyes are very prominent and are sited on lateral extensions of the head. The rostrum does not reach the middle coxae, and its apical segment is blunt, slightly longer than its basal width and with convex sides. The siphunculi are pale, smooth,truncate conical or stump-shaped, with a marked flange. The cauda is slightly knobbed with 5-8 hairs. Alates have the dorsal carapace broken into segmental dark bars and marginal sclerites. There are secondary rhinaria only on antennal segment 3.

There is only one species in the genus Caricosipha paniculatae which feeds on greater tussock sedge (Carex paniculata) and the true fox sedge (Carex vulpina).

Caricosipha paniculatae (Stalk-eyed sedge aphid) Europe

Adult apterae of Caricosipha paniculatae are greenish, yellowish or reddish with brown sclerotic patches ( see first picture below) or sometimes completely black dorsally (see second picture below). The antennae, legs, and siphunculi are all pale, as are the eye stalks which bear the prominent compound eyes. The hairs on antennal segment III are up to about 5 times as long as the basal diameter of that segment. The body is flattened and pear-shaped, broadest about the level of abdominal tergite 4 - and the head and pronotum are fused, as are abdominal tergites l-7. The body has many long, black, pointed hairs. The siphunculi are palish, smooth, truncate conical or stump-shaped. The cauda is slightly knobbed.

Caricosipha paniculatae (stalk-eyed sedge aphid) adult aptera green form on Carex paniculata (greater tussock sedge), Denmark; Poul Ulrik Micrograph of clarified mount of Caricosipha paniculatae (stalk-eyed sedge aphid) adult aptera

First image above copyright Poul Ulrik, all rights reserved;
Second image above copyright Stéphane Claerebout, all rights reserved;
Third image copyright Wieczorek et al. (2017) under a Creative Commons Attribution License.

Alatae have the dorsal carapace broken into segmental dark bars and marginal sclerites, and the body hairs shorter and thinner than in apterae.

Caricosipha paniculatae feeds on sedges (Carex sp.), especially Carex paniculata. There is no host alternation. This species is found throughout Europe.

Acknowledgements

Whilst we make every effort to ensure that identifications are correct, we cannot absolutely warranty their accuracy. We have mostly made identifications from high resolution photos of living specimens, along with host plant identity. In the great majority of cases, identifications have been confirmed by microscopic examination of preserved specimens. We have used the keys and species accounts of Blackman & Eastop (1994) and Blackman & Eastop (2006) supplemented with Blackman (1974), Stroyan (1977), Stroyan (1984), Blackman & Eastop (1984), Heie (1980-1995), Dixon & Thieme (2007) and Blackman (2010). We fully acknowledge these authors as the source for the (summarized) taxonomic information we have presented. Any errors in identification or information are ours alone, and we would be very grateful for any corrections. For assistance on the terms used for aphid morphology we suggest the figure provided by Blackman & Eastop (2006).

Useful weblinks

References

Blackman, R.L. & Eastop, V.F. (2006). Aphids on the world's herbaceous plants and shrubs. Vols 1 and 2. John Wiley & Sons.

Genus Caricosipha