Liosomaphis berberidis (Barberry aphid): identification, images, ecology, control

Liosomaphis berberidis apterae are greenish yellow or reddish orange (see pictures below) with a slight wax powdering. The antennae and legs are mostly pale, and the antennae are shorter than the body, about 0.4-0.5 times its length. The dorsum has no dark sclerites and is more or less distinctly wrinkled. The siphunculi are strongly swollen on the apical two thirds with a rather small flange, and are 1.8-2.3 times the length of the cauda. The cauda is thick and blunt. The body length of Liosomaphis berberidis apterae is 2.0-2.5 mm.

Liosomaphis berberidis (barberry aphid) adult aptera greenish yellow form on Berberis thunbergi (Japanese barberry) in East Sussex on 17/4/17 at 16.07 h.

The alate Liosomaphis berberidis has the head, thorax, antennae and tips of legs darker than in the apterous viviparous female. Some tergites may have pale marginal and dorsal sclerites, sometimes fused into cross bands.

Liosomaphis berberidis (barberry aphid) adult aptera orange red form on Berberis thunbergi (Japanese barberry) in East Sussex on 5/6/17 at 15.15 h.

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

Liosomaphis berberidis. Clarified slide mount of adult viviparous aptera.

The barberry aphid does not host alternate and lives on the underside of leaves of barberry (Berberis) and Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolia =Berberis aquifolium). It has a sexual stage in its life cycle. Liosomaphis berberidis is not attended by ants. It is widely distributed in Europe, Asia, North America and Australasia.

Other aphids on same host:

Blackman & Eastop list 15 species of aphid as feeding on barberry (Berberis species) worldwide, and provide formal identification keys.
Of those aphid species, Baker (2015) lists 6 as occurring in Britain: Aphis aurantii, Aphis nasturtii, Aphis spiraecola, Aulacorthum solani, Liosomaphis berberidis and Macrosiphum euphorbiae.
Liosomaphis berberidis is the only species known to occur on Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolia). Blackman & Eastop list 2 species of aphid as feeding on Mahonia species worldwide, and provide formal identification keys.
Of those aphid species, Baker (2015) lists one as occurring in Britain: Liosomaphis berberidis.

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

Liosomaphis berberidis

Barberry aphid

Identification & Distribution:

Other aphids on same host:

Acknowledgements

Useful weblinks