Classification
Aphidinae: Aphidini
Common name(s)
Melon aphid, cotton aphid
Diagnosis
Adults and nymphs green, lightly dusted with fine wax (unlike A. pisum, in which adult apterae are conspicuous in colonies because they have no wax bloom). Eyes red, antennae pale brownish with joints darker, legs, cornicles and cauda are pale. Antennae longer than body, almost 1.4 times as long as body. Siphunculi 2.5-3 times as long as cauda. Processus terminalis 3-3.5 times the base of last antennal segment. Alates have 9-12 rhinaria, while apterae have 1-2. Cauda with 3-6 hairs.
This species is close to Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris, but differs by the knobbed hairs on the vertex, longer and broader cornicles, smaller number of sensoria in alates, fewer hairs on the 1st antennal segment and the apical segment of the rostrum.
Distribution
India (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu); Sri Lanka; Cameroon; South Africa.
Host plant(s)
Fabaceae: Sesbania grandiflora L. (Pers.).
Measurements
Seasonal occurrence
India (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu), Sri Lanka, Cameroon, South Africa.
Natural enemies
Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Calvia punctata (Mulsant).