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Macrosiphum euphorbiellum (=Macrosiphum amygdaloides)Euphorbia aphidOn this page: Identification & Distribution Other aphids on the same hostIdentification & Distribution:Macrosiphum euphorbiellum adult apterae (see first picture below) are usually green, sometimes with a darker green longitudinal stripe, but may also be pink, magenta or wine red. Their eyes are reddish and the antennae are dusky. The antennal terminal process is 4.2-5.2 times longer than the base of the sixth antennal segment. The apical parts of the femora are black (cf. Macrosiphum euphorbiae which has the apical parts of the femora pale or only slightly dusky). The siphunculi are pale with the tips darker. The cauda is rather pointed and not constricted. The body length of Macrosiphum euphorbiellum apterae is 2.0-4.0 mm.
The alate (see second picture above) is similarly coloured to the aptera. The micrograph below shows an adult Macrosiphum euphorbiellum aptera in ethanol.
The clarified slide mounts below are of adult viviparous female Macrosiphum euphorbiellum: wingless, and winged.
Micrographs of clarified mounts by permission of Roger Blackman, copyright AWP all rights reserved. The euphorbia aphid does not host alternate, but spends its entire life cycle on spurge, especially wood spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides) and red spurge (Euphorbia characias). It feeds on the stems and in the flowerheads. Red oviparous females and red winged males have been found in autumn in Switzerland. Macrosiphum euphorbiellum is found in southern England, southern Ireland and much of central and southern Europe. Other aphids on same host:Macrosiphum euphorbiellum have been recorded from 4 Euphorbia species (Euphorbia amygdaloides, Euphorbia characias, Euphorbia esula, Euphorbia semiperfoliata).
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