Notes on East African Aphids Grass and Cereal Stem- And Leaf-Feeding Species

Abstract

There are several very similar species of tribe Rhopalosiphina which resembles the Macrosiphum (Sitobion) in East Africa Aphidina but differs in that the lateral resembling the European M. (S.) fragaritE tubercles of the seventh abdominal segment (T) (Walker), which, since they differ only slightly are placed dorsally or posteriorly (on the row in such characters as the shape of the rostrum of crosses in Fig. A) to the spiracle (S). In the and the length of the body hairs, should be Aphidina the tubercle is placed ventrally to the submitted to a specialist for identification. spiracle. Most Rhopalosiphina feed only on Microscope preparations resemble M. (S.) grasses and sedges, while the Aphidina are nigrinectaria, figured in Part III of this series. usually found on Dicotyledons. The They may be black, blue, brownish, yellow or Rhopalosiphina may be separated by means of green in life. M. (S.) aventE (Fabr.) (granarium the following key to the wingless adults. Both Kirby, of some authors), only once recorded aerial and root-feeding species are included, as from East Africa (perhaps a misidentification), are a few species not known from East Africa differs from the fragaritE group in that the but important elsewhere. A short key for the siphunculi are only about one and one-quarter identification of the winged forms is also given. times as long as the cauda. M. (Sitobion) sijui