aphids

(Uroleucon spp.)

Overview
aphid (Uroleucon sp.)
Photo by Alfredo Colon
 

Uroleucon is a large genus of medium-sized to large aphids. They occur in Europe, Asia, Australia, and North and South America. There are 226 described species of Uroleucon worldwide, at least 71 in North America north of Mexico, and at least 7 species, probably many more, in Minnesota. Unlike many aphids, they are not attended by ants. They All but one species feeds on plants in the Aster (Asteraceae) family. Unlike most aphids, they complete their life cycle on one host. They do not migrate to a secondary plant species.

 
           
 
Description
 
 

Uroleucon aphids are soft-bodied, somewhat pear-shaped, and to 516 (4 to 8 mm) long. They may be red, reddish-brown, or blackish-brown. The antennae are about as long as the body. There is a pair of elongated processes (cornicles) near the end of the abdomen.

Uroleucon aphids are specialist feeders, feeding on just one plant species or a few related species. They can often be identified by the plant host species. However, some plants host multiple species of aphids. For instance, there are at least 22 species that feed on goldenrods (Solidago spp.).

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

7, 24, 27, 29, 30, 82.

 
  10/31/2021      
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Hemiptera (true bugs, hoppers, aphids, and allies)  
 

Suborder

Sternorrhyncha (plant-parasitic hemipterans)  
 

Infraorder

Aphidomorpha (aphids and allies)  
 

Superfamily

Aphidoidea  
 

Family

Aphididae (aphids)  
 

Subfamily

Aphidinae  
 

Tribe

Macrosiphini  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

aphid (Uroleucon helianthicola)

bronze-brown dandelion aphid (Uroleucon taraxaci)

brown ambrosia aphid (Uroleucon ambrosiae)

crimson tansy aphid (Uroleucon tanacetii)

dark-tailed thistle aphid (Uroleucon aeneum)

goldenglow aphid (Uroleucon rudbeckiae)

goldenrod aphid (Uroleucon solidaginis)

harebell aphid (Uroleucon campanulae)

large chicory aphid (Uroleucon cichorii)

large fleabane daisy aphid (Uroleucon erigeronense)

large hawksbeard aphid (Uroleucon grossum)

large hawkweed aphid (Uroleucon obscurum)

large knapweed aphid (Uroleucon jaceae)

large sowthistle aphid (Uroleucon sonchi)

large thistle aphid (Uroleucon cirsii)

mouse-ear hawkweed aphid (Uroleucon pilosellae)

red goldenrod aphid (Uroleucon nigrotuberculatum)

red yarrow aphid (Uroleucon achilleae)

yellow-legged knapweed aphid (Uroleucon jaceicola)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

This genus has no common name. The common name of the Family Aphididae is aphids, and it is used here for convenience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Alfredo Colon

 
    aphid (Uroleucon sp.)      
           
    aphid (Uroleucon sp.)   aphid (Uroleucon sp.)  
           
    aphid (Uroleucon sp.)   aphid (Uroleucon sp.)  
           
 
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Other Videos
 
  Red Aphid (Aphididae: Uroleucon) on Plant Stem
Carl Barrentine
 
   
 
About

Aug 9, 2010

Note the pattern of the leaf miner as well as the small insects on the leaf gleaning honeydew dropped by feeding aphids (or are these not insects, but mottled aphid exuviae?) . Photographed at the Turtle River State Park, North Dakota (09 August 2010).

 
  Uroleucon aphids on sunflower leaf
brian0918
 
   
 
About

Jun 7, 2019

Uroleucon sp. aphids have infested the leaves of our Ox Eye Sunflowers (Heliopsis helianthoides)

 

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this insect.

 
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  Alfredo Colon
8/2/2022

Location: Albany, NY

aphid (Uroleucon sp.)  
  Alfredo Colon
8/29/2019

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

aphid (Uroleucon sp.)  
  Alfredo Colon
8/13/2019

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

aphid (Uroleucon sp.)  
  Alfredo Colon
8/9/2019

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

aphid (Uroleucon sp.)  
  Alfredo Colon
8/2/2019

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

aphid (Uroleucon sp.)  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

Binoculars


Created: 6/4/2020

Last Updated:

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