Euceraphis betulae

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Euceraphis betulae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Sternorrhyncha
Family: Aphididae
Genus: Euceraphis
Species:
E. betulae
Binomial name
Euceraphis betulae
(Koch, 1855)

Euceraphis betulae, the birch aphid or silver birch aphid, is a species of aphid in the order Hemiptera. It is a tiny green insect with a soft body and wings. It is found living on the European silver birch tree (Betula pendula) where it feeds and multiplies on the buds and leaves by sucking sap.

Description

The silver birch aphid is a light green colour with a bluish tinge. The blueness is due to the dusting of blue wax particles which are particularly obvious on the antennae and legs. All adults have membranous wings and during the spring and summer, all individuals are female.[1] The mouthparts are specialised to form a slender stylet for piercing and sucking sap from their host tree.[citation needed]

Biology

Silver birch leaves, catkins, fruits and seed

viviparously. As the days shorten, there is a change in the reproductive pattern. The next generation of adults produced consists of greyish, winged males and brown, winged egg-laying females. After mating, the females lay batches of orange eggs on birch twigs. The adults die off and the eggs soon turn to a glossy black colour. They are able to withstand harsh winter weather and hatch in the spring when the tree is about to resume growth.[1]

Ecology

Like many other species of aphid, Euceraphis betulae is very specific as to the identity of its host. The silver birch is an ornamental tree native to Europe which has been introduced into North America, Australia, New Zealand and other parts of the world and the aphid has travelled with it.

downy birch (Betula pubescens) has its own species of aphid, Euceraphis punctipennis. At one time this was thought to be identical to Euceraphis betulae but there have been found to be chromosomal differences between the two, and they are now considered to be separate species.[2]

Ladybirds and their larvae feed on aphids. In America the eyed ladybird (Anatis ocellata) specialises on the aphids colonising various trees. Their diets include the silver birch aphid and pine aphids. The cream-spot ladybird (Calvia quatuordecimguttata) also feeds on Euceraphis betulae.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Blackman, Roger (2010). "Euceraphis betulae (silver birch aphid)". Natural History Museum. Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  2. ^ a b Blackman, Roger; Holopainen, Jarmo. "A year in the life of a birch aphid". Retrieved 2013-01-16.
  3. doi:10.1080/09583150020029727
    .
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Euceraphis_betulae&oldid=1185952608"