Classification

Aphidinae: Aphidini

Common name(s)

Sugarcane aphid, yellow sugarcane aphid, green sugarcane aphid, cane aphid, sorghum aphid

Diagnosis

This aphid is greatly variable in colour depending on the host plant and environmental conditions; pale-yellow, yellow-brown, dark-brown, purple, or pink; small, always attended by large number of ants. Fully-grown nymphs may have scattered brown patches, randomly distributed on abdominal tergum; sometimes intersegmental lines are marked brown. Body 12-13x as long as siphunculi. Antennae usually six- and rarely five-segmented, about half as long as body (in larger specimens antennae much longer). Processus terminalis 4-5x longer than base of last antennal segment. Cauda pale in contrast to brown siphunculi.

The infestation starts from the central whorl and later spreads to the leaf surface. The aphids are usually found on the upper surface of the leaves.

Distribution

Cosmopolitan. Allover South India.

Host plant(s)

Poaceae: Pennisetum glaucum R. Br., Saccharum officinarum L., Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench., Zea mays L.

Measurements

Aptera: Length of body 1.55, width 0.89; antennae 0.81, segments III: IV: V: VI 0.22: 0.17: 0.17: (0.07+0.36); u.r.s. 0.09; h.t.2 0.11; siphunculus 0.12; cauda 0.16.
Alata: Length of body 1.89, width 0.91; antennae 1.00, segments III: IV: V: VI 0.24: 0.22: 0.23: (0.11+0.37); u.r.s. 0.09; h.t.2 0.09; siphunculus 0.09; cauda 0.10.

Seasonal occurrence

January-March and June-August.

Natural enemies

Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Cryptogonus quadriguttatus (Weise), Scymnus (Pullus) castaneus Sicard.

Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae: Aphelinus desantisi Hayat.

Diptera: Syrphidae: Allograpta javana (Wiedemann), Eumerus sp. nr. albifrons Walker, Paragus serratus (F.), P. tibialis (Fallen), P. yerburiensis Stuckenberg, Ischiodon scutellaris (F.), Episyrphus balteatus (De Geer), Sphaerophoria ?indiana Bigot.

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	Habitus