Aphids

Aphids

Aphids are very polyphagous pests. Adults are winged or wingless (the colonies set on the plants are essentially wingless). They are 1-5 mm long, with a globular shape, and can be of different colours: yellow, green, brown... . Aphids are characterised by antenna and rostrum on the head, cauda and cornicles on the extremity of the abdomen.

Winged aphids adults on rose

Winged aphids adults on rose (x 10) (Copyright Christiane METAY-MERRIEN, INRA-URIH).

Wingless aphids adults on cut rose

Wingless aphids adults on cut rose (Copyright Christiane METAY-MERRIEN, INRA-URIH).

Aphids on cut rose

Aphids on cut rose (Copyright Christiane METAY-MERRIEN, INRA-URIH).

The main species on rose crops are Rhodobium porosum Sanderson and Macrosiphum rosae L.

Sooty mould on cut rose

Sooty mould on cut rose (Copyright Christiane METAY-MERRIEN, INRA-URIH).

Aphids develop on the top of young leaves and flowers, sucking the sap and producing honeydew that leads to sooty mold. As aphids are stinging insect, they can be vectors of virus plant pathologies. One can detect aphids from exuviae and observe them without equipment.

Life cycle

The life cycle is very complex including sexual and parthenogenetic reproduction periods, depending on the climate and on the host-plant. Population outbreaks generally occur in spring and autumn and are favoured by climatic greenhouse conditions.

Natural enemies

Natural enemies are parasitoid Hymenoptera, and predators like Diptera or Coleoptera.

Modification date : 25 April 2023 | Publication date : 30 August 2013 | Redactor : Roger BOLL, Christiane METAY-MERRIEN et Séverine DOISE (INRA-URIH)