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Classification
Aphidinae: Aphidini
Common name(s)
Bean aphid, black bean aphid
Diagnosis
Young colonies consist of matt black aphids on young shoots, older colonies spread over most of aerial parts of plant with many individuals developing white waxy markings. Colonies regularly ant-attended. Antennal segments I, II, apical half of base VI and processus terminalis dusky to dark, segments III, IV, and basal half of V white in live aphids. Apical two-thirds of femora dusky to dark; apices of tibia and tarsi dark. Cauda as dark as siphunculi.
This aphid resembles Aphis craccivora Koch, but adults are dull-black as against shiny black in A. craccivora.
Distribution
Widespread in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere; South America; Africa; not common in the hotter parts of the tropics and the Middle East. Distributed throughout India.
Host plant(s)
Liliaceae: Aloe vera (L.) N.L.Burman; Solanaceae: Cestrum nocturnum L., Datura sp., Solanum nigrum Linn.; Convolvulaceae: Ipomoea fistulosa Mart.ex Choisy; Asteraceae: Tagetes erecta L.; Bignoneaceae: Tecoma stans Griseb.; Fabaceae: Vicia faba L.
Measurements
Aptera: Length of body 2.14, width 1.2; antennae 1.32, segments III: IV: V: VI 0.32: 0.22: 0.20: (0.12+0.32); u.r.s. 0.12; h.t.2 0.11; siphunculus 0.31; cauda 0.17.
Alata: Length of body 2.18, width 1.1; antennae 1.38, segments III: IV: V: VI 0.32: 0.19: 0.22: (0.13+0.34); u.r.s. 0.12; h.t.2 0.11; siphunculus 0.22; cauda 0.19.
Seasonal occurrence
January-February and June-August; post-rainy season.
Natural enemies
Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Anegleis cardoni (Weise), Brumoides suturalis (F.), Cheilomenes sexmaculata (F.), Coelophora biplagiata (Swartz), C. bissellata Mulsant, Hippodamia variegata (Goeze), Hyperaspis maindroni Sicard, Micraspis allardi (Mulsant), Oenopia kirbyi Mulsant, O. quadripunctata Kapur, O. sauzeti Mulsant, Propylea luteopustulata (Mulsant), Pseudaspidimerus trinotatus (Thunberg), Scymnus (Pullus) pyrocheilus Mulsant, S. (P.) castaneus Sicard, S. (P.) latemaculatus Motschulsky, S. (P.) xerampelinus Mulsant, S. (S.) nubilus Mulsant.
Diptera: Syrphidae: Betasyrphus serarius (Wiedemann), Eupeodes confrater (Wiedemann), Ischiodon scutellaris (F.), Episyrphus balteatus (De Geer).
Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae: Aphelinus albipodus Hayat & Fatima.
Braconidae: Aphidiinae: Aphidius colemani Viereck, A. matricariae Haliday, Ephedrus plagiator (Nees), Diaeretiella rapae (M'Intosh), Lipolexis scutellaris Mackauer, Praon abjectum (Haliday), Trioxys indicus Subba Rao & Sharma.