Insects
Psyllids, lerps, aphids & whiteflies (Hemiptera, several families)
Sighting 4441765

Aphididae (family)

Unidentified aphid at O'Connor, ACT

Aphididae (family) at O'Connor, ACT - 26 Aug 2022 03:21 PM
Aphididae (family) at O'Connor, ACT - 26 Aug 2022 03:21 PM
Aphididae (family) at O'Connor, ACT - 26 Aug 2022 03:21 PM
Aphididae (family) at O'Connor, ACT - 26 Aug 2022 03:21 PM
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Identification history

Aphididae (family) 3 Sep 2022 MichaelMulvaney
Unverified 26 Aug 2022 ConBoekel

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3 comments

MichaelMulvaney wrote:
   26 Aug 2022
@RogerF and @KimberiRP this looks like it may be Black Bean Aphid Aphis fabae which is a biosecurity concern. The antennae colours don't match one of the descriptions I read for the aphid, and it is a bit hard to tell but the wing venation is similar but doesn't seem to be the same, but I would like a second opinion.

Thanks Michael
MichaelMulvaney wrote:
   29 Aug 2022
Have researched a bit more and pretty sure this is not Black Bean aphid https://www.padil.gov.au/pests-and-diseases/pest/136090
MichaelMulvaney wrote:
   3 Sep 2022
Michael Tweedie of ACT biosecurity followed up this sighting by sending it to a college in NSW Department of Primary Industry who came back with the following reply

"Winged aphids are usually impossible to identify from photos. Aphids are very tricky, you usually need adult, wingless specimens under your microscope plus knowledge of the host plant to have any chance of identifying the little critters. Therefore I have asked Cameron Brumley from DPIRD (Western Australia), who is the Australian expert on aphids for his advice as with his extensive experience he can sometimes exclude things from photos.

Cameron’s reply:
"Happy to offer advice – I think it is highly unlikely this is A. fabae. The colouration looks wrong, the siph/cauda look a bit off, and from what I can make out the terminal process looks too long to be fabae.
Like you say though, just an educated guess- no way of knowing from images alone. From my perspective if this was from WA, I wouldn’t raise any alarms to send out field staff hunting for it.
The blessings/curses of citizen science projects are situations like these".

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  • Less than 5mm Animal size

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