Dysaphis hirsutissima (Hairy mealy root aphid) identification, images, ecology, control

Colonies of Dysaphis hirsutissima are attended by ants which tent the colony on the basal parts of Anthriscus sylvestris (cow parsley), sometimes completely covering it with soil particles (see first picture below). The adult apterae of Dysaphis hirsutissima are bluish-green with a dark dorsal pattern of paired sclerites and cross-bands (see second picture below). Dorsal hairs are long and very numerous on each tergite. The longest hairs on antennal segment III are 57-97 μm long, 2.5-3.7 times the basal diameter of that segment (cf. Dysaphis anthrisci which has longest hairs on antennal segment III at 26-72 μm and dorsal hairs less numerous and shorter).

Dysaphis hirsutissima colony at base of cow parsley, at Birling Gap on the East Sussex coast, on 2016-07-08 15.47 hrs. Dysaphis hirsutissima adult aptera, at Birling Gap, East Sussex, on 2016-07-08 18.54 hrs. Dysaphis hirsutissima immatures on cow_parsley. At Birling Gap, East Sussex, On 2016-07-08 15.56.

Immatures of Dysaphis hirsutissima (see third picture above) are also blue-green and are very hairy like the adult, but they lack the black markings. They also have an orange patch around each siphunculus as do immatures of several other Dysaphis species. The micrographs below show an adult Dysaphis hirsutissima (dorsal and ventral) preserved in ethanol.

Dysaphis hirsutisima aptera dorsal in alcohol. Dysaphis hirsutisima aptera ventral in alcohol.

The clarified slide mounts below are of adult viviparous female Dysaphis hirsutisima : wingless, and winged.

Dysaphis hirsutisima. Clarified slide mount of adult viviparous aptera.

Dysaphis hirsutissima is found on the stem base and in leaf sheaths of cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris). It has only been recorded from Britain, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and Italy, but is probably widespread over most of Europe.

Biology & Ecology

We have only found this species on one occasion on an isolated plant of cow parsley at Birling Gap on the East Sussex coast. The plant itself was nearly dead, although the stem was still green.

Dysaphis hirsutissima adult aptera, at Birling Gap, East Sussex. On 2016-07-08 18.58 hrs

The Dysaphis colony was partly below the soil surface, with the upper part tented with soil by Myrmica ants.

Dysaphis hirsutissima colony attended by ants on cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), at Birling Gap, East Sussex, on 2016-07-08 15.49 hrs.

Other aphids on the same host

Dysaphis hirsutissima has been recorded from 2 Anthriscus species (Anthriscus caucalis, Anthriscus sylvestris).

Blackman & Eastop list 20 species of aphid as feeding on cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris) worldwide, and provide formal identification keys (Show World list). Of those aphid species, Baker (2015) lists 12 as occurring in Britain(Show British list).

The image below shows a colony of Aphis fabae on the upper stem of the same plant as a Dysaphis hirsutissuma colony shown above.

Aphis fabae sharing cow parsley with Dysaphis hirsutissuma. At Birling Gap, East Sussex. On 2016-07-08 15.41 hrs.

Acknowledgements

Our particular thanks to Roger Blackman for images of his clarified slide mounts.
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

Dysaphis hirsutissima

Hairy mealy root aphid

Identification & Distribution

Biology & Ecology

Other aphids on the same host

Acknowledgements

Useful weblinks