Classification
Aphidinae: Aphidini
Diagnosis
Small, dark grey-green to almost black aphids, usually clustered on stem apices and tender upper leaves and shoots. The aphids are dusted with light wax powder with clear intersegmental lines. Body small to medium. Antenna about 2/3 as long as body. Antenna with I, II and last segments dark, remaining segments pale; processus terminalis less than twice the length of base of last antennal segment. Siphunculi dusky to black, darker than cauda. Cauda broadly rounded at apex, with 4 -7 hairs.
Closely related to A. gossypii, but with a relatively short terminal process to antenna. Honeydew excretion is very low, but leaves get curled and deformed.
Distribution
Southern Europe, Russia, the Middle East, India (Karnataka), Pakistan.
Host plant(s)
Lamiaceae: Mentha viridis (L.); Ocimum basilicum L.
Measurements
Aptera: Length of body 1.47, width 0.79; antennae 1.05, segments III: IV: V: VI 0.42: 0.19: 0.19: (0.11+0.12); u.r.s. 0.16; h.t.2 0.11; siphunculus 0.27; cauda 0.15.
Alata: Length of body 1.65, width 0.62; antennae 1.08, segments III: IV: V: VI 0.22: 0.14: 0.18: (0.10+0.10); u.r.s. 0.12; h.t.2 0.08; siphunculus 0.19; cauda 0.10.
Seasonal occurrence
January-February, July-August
Natural enemies
Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Brumoides suturalis (F.), Cheilomenes sexmaculata (F.), Coccinella transversalis F..