Cinara confinis
Cinara confinis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hemiptera |
Suborder: | Sternorrhyncha |
Family: | Aphididae |
Genus: | Cinara |
Species: | C. confinis
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Binomial name | |
Cinara confinis (Koch, 1856)
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Synonyms | |
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Cinara confinis, the black stem aphid, is a
Description
Cinara confinis is a dark-coloured aphid growing to a maximum length of about 8 mm (0.3 in). The head and thorax are dark brown with yellowish-grey antennae and dark brown-ringed or blackish limbs. The abdomen is greenish-black or dark brown with two longitudinal rows of shining black spots and specks of wax in transverse rows. The cornicles (upright tubes found on the last abdominal segment) are prominent and dark-coloured.[1]
Hosts
Cinara confinis has been found feeding on species of
Biology
In
Colonies of this aphid are often attended by ants such as the southern wood ant (Formica rufa) which feed on the honeydew produced by the aphids. Sometimes the ants construct earth galleries to enclose the aphid colony.[1] The ants also protect the aphids from parasitic wasps; however, some aphids are still parasitized, and become blackish, mummified husks. The wasp Pauesia grossa, found in Central Europe, is probably restricted to using Cinara confinis as a host in which to lay eggs.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Cinara confinis: Black stem aphid". InfluentialPoints.com. Retrieved 2015-02-06.
- ^ "Cinara confinis". AphiD. USDA. Retrieved 2015-02-06.
- ^ "The black stem aphid (Cinara confinis) - hosting a new parasite species". InfluentialPoints.com. 2014-09-01. Retrieved 2015-02-07.
- ^ Strubble, D.B.; Osgood, E.A.; Pepper, J.O. (1976). "Notes on the biology of Cinara abieticola (Chlodkovsky) in Maine and descriptions of sexuales (Homoptera: Aphididae)". Entomological News. 87: 280–284.