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Nasonovia pilosellaeHawkweed aphidOn this page: Identification & Distribution Other aphids on the same hostIdentification & Distribution:Adult apterae of Nasonovia pilosellae are medium-sized yellowish-green to blackish, rather shiny aphids. There are dark intersegmental sclerites between each abdominal segment, as well as variable and usually ill-defined dorsal pigmentation of the abdomen. The ratio of the length of the terminal process of the last antennal segment to its base ranges from 5.7-8.0 (cf. Nasonovia ribisnigri in which the ratio of the length of the terminal process of the last antennal segment to its base ranges from 7.0-11.4). The secondary rhinaria on the third antennal segment spread out along one side of the segment (see micrograph below) (cf.Nasonovia ribisnigri where the secondary rhinaria on the third antennal segment tend to be concentrated on the basal part of the segment). The first segment of their hind tarsus has two hairs. Their siphunculi are cylindrical and rather long, with little or no apical reticulation The cauda of Nasonovia pilosellae is elongate and rather blunt finger-shaped. The body length of the Nasonovia pilosellae adult aptera is 1.2-2.5 mm.
The Nasonovia pilosellae alate (see second picture above) has a green abdomen with black marginal sclerites. The dark green spino-pleural markings are variably developed. The images below show an aptera in alcohol, and the rhinaria on antennal segment III.
The clarified slide mounts below are of adult viviparous female Nasonovia pilosellae : wingless, and winged.
Micrographs of clarified mounts by permission of Roger Blackman, copyright AWP all rights reserved. The hawkweed aphid lives all year round on a few related species of hawkweed, namely the orange hawkweed (Pilosella aurantiaca), common hawkweed (Hieracium lachenalii) and the mouse-ear hawkweed (Hieracium pilosella). Other aphids on same host:Nasonovia pilosellae has been recorded from 7 Hieracium species, and 2 Pilosella species (Pilosella caespitosa, Pilosella officinarum).
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