P. alni

Pterocallis alni (De Geer, 1773), Pterocallis maculatus (von Heyden, 1837)

Common alder aphid, Green barred alder aphid

Pterocallis maculatus
Pterocallis alni : adulte ailé
Pterocallis alni : montage lame et lamelle

These two species, morphologically very close, colonize common alder.

Pterocallis alni
1.5-2.0 mm.
Apterous: light yellow to yellowish green with antenna ringed, shorter than length of body, abdomen covered with capitate hairs, cornicles short and dark, cauda knobbed, black spot on femur.
Alate: antenna ringed, shorter than body, black spot on antennal segment I, cornicles short and dark, cauda knobbed, black spot on femur, anal vein of wing dark.

See identification file

Pterocallis maculatus
1.4-2.1 mm.
Apterous: light yellow to yellowish green streaked with dark green marbled patches; antenna ringed, shorter than length of body; abdomen covered with blunt-ended hairs, cornicles short and dark, cauda knobbed, black spot on femur.
Alate: light yellow to yellowish green streaked with dark green marbled patches, antenna ringed, shorter than length of body, black spot on segment I of antenna, cornicles short and dark, cauda knobbed, black spot on femur, anal vein of wing dark.

Monoecious holocyclic

Alnus glutinosa (alder)

Pterocallis alni lives under alder leaves as more or less scattered individuals and are not visited by ants.

P. maculatus also lives under leaves of alder but in colonies often visited by ants.

In this folder

Modification date : 07 February 2023 | Publication date : 02 February 2017 | Redactor : Evelyne Turpeau, Maurice Hullé, Bernard Chaubet