Genus Monaphis

Genus Monaphis [Calaphidini]

Monaphis are very large aphids with all adult viviparae winged. They are robust, ventrally flattened, green aphids with very long thick black antennae and a conspicuous elongate dark pterostigma in the forewing.

There is only one species in the Monaphis genus (Monaphis antennata) which lives solitarily on birch (Betula spp.) in Europe and much of Asia; also recorded from the USA. It has a sexual stage in is life cycle, but does not host alternate and is not attended by ants.

Monaphis antennata (Solitary birch aphid)

Adult winged forms of Monaphis antennata are green, with very long thick antennae that are black except at the base. The terminal process of the antennae is nine times as long as the base of the last antennal segment. Their siphunculi are very short with a flange. The cauda is tongue-shaped and not constricted. The forewing of the alate has an elongate dark pterostigma. The body length of an adult Monaphis antennata is 3.3-4.3 mm.

Immature Monaphis antennata (see second picture above) are cryptic, and usually lie along the mid-ribs on the upper sides of leaves.

Monaphis antennata live solitarily on birch (Betula spp.). They migrate to the undersides of the leaves for the final moult. Sexual forms occur in September-October. They are found in Europe, eastward across Asia to Siberia, China and Japan.

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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).

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References Stroyan, H.L.G. (1977). Homoptera: Aphidoidea (Part) - Chaitophoridae and Callaphidae. Handbooks for the identification of British insects. 2 (4a) Royal Entomological Society of London. Full text