Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet Edition

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Citrus aphids (249)

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Photo 1. Citrus aphids, Toxoptera sp., infesting a new flush of leaves.

 Photo 2. Shiny black adult citrus aphids, Toxoptera sp., and reddish-brown nymphs on the back of a citrus leaf. Note the two syrphid larvae, predators of aphids.

Photo 3. A winged citrus aphid, Toxoptera sp. in the foreground.

Summary

• Worldwide distribution. There are two types, brown and black; but a microscope is needed to tell them apart. The brown citrus aphid occurs on citrus, and perhaps close relatives. The black citrus aphid occurs on over 120 hosts, including citrus, cocoa, coffee, Hibiscus, maize, Vanda orchids and tea. Important pests.
•  Important: (i) suck sap damaging shoot tips; (ii) spread Citrus tristeza virus; (iii) produce honeydew, blackening leaves.
• Citrus tristeza virus is spreadmore efficiently by the black type.
• Most colonies are wingless; winged adults develop when colonies are large. The aphids can fly up to 30 km.
• Natural enemies: predators, and parasitoid wasps.
• Chemical control: white or horticultural oils; PDPs: neem, derris, pyrethrum, or chilli; or synthetic pyrethroids, but likely to kill natural enemies.

Common Name

Brown and black citrus aphids. There is confusion in these names with brown and black given to both species of Toxoptera by different authors. CABI has the common names as follows: Toxoptera aurantii is the camellia aphid, and Toxoptera citricida as the black citrus aphid. Some accounts give the common name for Toxoptera citricida as the black/brown aphid!

In this fact sheet Toxoptera citricida is the brown citrus aphid, and Toxoptera aurantii, the black citrus aphid.

Scientific Name

Toxoptera species. Toxoptera citricida, brown citrus aphid (CABI-black citrus aphid); Toxoptera aurantii, black citrus aphid (CABI-camellia aphid).

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