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Home , Cerataphis brasiliensis, Idiopterus, Lipaphis, Lipaphis pseudobrassicae, Pentalonia, Rhodobium (insect)

(PLANT LICE) OF JAMAICA

Tannice A. Hall

Previously published in Natural History Old Notes, Vol.1, .

Keywords: aphids, plant lice

INTRODUCTION

cientifically, aphids belong to the family (: S ). The Sternorrhyncha also includes the scale and mealybugs (Coccoidea), psyllids (Psylloidea) and whiteflies (Aleyrodoidea). In

Jamaica they are called lice. Most aphids have plump bodies with a pair of siphunculi (cornicles) on the lower abdomen. They may or may not have wings

(alate or apterous). Body lengths of aphids, in Jamaica, typically range from 1-

5mm.

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Figure 1. Winged , Uroleucon ambrosiae; (body length, 4-5mm) ECOLOGY

phids live in colonies of adults and nymphs. These are an ecosystem by A themselves, supporting a variety of other arthropods. Some of the groups that can be found living in the colony include:

Predators - ladybird beetles, larvae (Figure 2) & adults; lacewing larvae and

hoverfly larvae. A variety of other bugs, midges and spiders visit the colony

to feed.

Mutualists – ants (Figure 3). Workers tend the aphids, remove predators and in

turn receive honeydew from the aphid’s anus as food. This behaviour has

led to aphids being called “ant cows”.

Parasitoids - chalcid and ichneumonid wasp. These may parasitize aphids,

laying a single egg in or on the abdomen of the aphid. The aphid

becomes immobilized “mummified”, changes colour to brown or black

(Figure 4) then eventually dies as the developing parasite feeds on it..

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Figure 2. Aphid colony (Aphis craccivora) with the larva of a ladybird beetle

Figure 3. Aphid colony (Aphis spiraecola) being tended by ants

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Figure 4. Healthy and mummified aphids (Rhopalosiphum maidis) on corn (Zea mays)

BIOLOGY

olonies may be found on trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses and may be located C on various parts of plants (roots, leaves, stem, flowers and fruit). They feed by inserting their stylet into the plant and sucking from the phloem. Aphids may be host specific for certain host plants or may practice host alternation. Those that are host specific feed on one species or of plants for their entire life cycle. Host alternators, in most cases, move from woody plants to herbaceous plants at different stages. A few aphids are polyphagous, utilizing a wide variety of hosts from different families.

Each species of aphid is polymorphic with at least a winged (alate) and non- winged (apterous) female that is viviparous. Most have at least five different adult morphological forms which occur during the life cycle including the foundatrix, male, sexual female and other forms.

Reproduction is either asexual by parthenogenesis (females produce females from unfertilized eggs but retain the eggs resulting in live birth (viviparity)) or sexual which results in fertilized eggs which are laid (oviparity). Viviparous aphids practice what is termed “telescoping of generations” which means that the developing embryo within an aphid also has an embryo developing within it.

The generation time for aphids is short and all these features can lead to large colonies being developed quickly to exploit short-lived food sources.

Aphids can either reproduce parthenogenetically for all their generations

(anholocyclic life cycle) or they may alternate a sexual stage of its life cycle with

several asexual generations (holocyclic life cycle). This holocyclic life cycle is

adapted to temperate climates so sexual reproduction occurs in the fall and eggs overwinter to hatch in the spring. During the summer aphids reproduce

asexually as in Jamaica where the anholocyclic life cycle occurs. APHIDS AS PESTS

Many aphid species are pest. They drain nutrients and in cases where the

colonies are large, their feeding may result in death of the plant. Even in cases where the plant survives the marketable product will be of poor quality or

unusable (Figure 5, 6). Additionally, aphids transmit viruses, many to

economically important crops such as cereals, vegetables and fruits. Viruses may

be carried both on the stylet and within the saliva of the aphid.

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Figure 5. on the fruit of Annona muricata (soursop)

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Figure 6. pseudobrassicae on the leaves of cabbage (Brassica chinensis)

JAMAICAN APHIDS

Jamaica has at least 68 species from at least 8 subfamilies. Worldwide there are over 4400 species in 25 subfamilies. One species found here has not yet been described. It is expected that a number of other aphid species are present on the island especially on plants at higher altitudes.

Most of the known Jamaican fauna belong to the which is also the largest family worldwide. The other subfamilies are shown in the table.

SUBFAMILY SPECIES ERIOSOMATINAE Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann, 1802) Tetraneura nigriabdominalis (Sasaki, 1899) Geopemphigus floccosus (Moreira, 1925) Pemphigus populitransversus Riley,1979 HORMAPHIDINAE brasiliensis (Hempel, 1901) Cerataphis lataniae (Boisduval, 1867) LIZERINAE Lizerius tuberculatus (E. E. Blanchard, 1939) CALLAPHIDINAE Tinocallis kahawaluokalani (Kirkaldy, 1907) GREENIDEINAE Greenidea psidii van deer Goot 1916 CHAITOPHORINAE flava (Forbes, 1884) LACHNINAE Cinara atlantica (Wilson, 1919) APHIDINAE Over 60 species in the genera Aphis, Toxoptera, Acyrthosiphum, Aulacortum, Brachycaudus, Caroliania, Cavariella, Dysaphis, Hyperomyzus, Hysteroneura, Idiopterus, Lipaphis, Macrosiphoniella, Macrosiphum, Melanaphis, Microparsus, Myzus, Pentalonia, Rhopalosiphum, Rhodobium, Schizaphis Sitobion, Trichosiphonaphis and Uroleucon.

The most common species in Jamaica are Aphis craccivora, Aphis gossypii, Aphis spiraecola, Uroleucon ambrosiae, ; all of which are polyphagous. About 20% of the species are polyphagous.

Over 200 plants in 60 families (11 Monocotyledonous and 49 Dicotyledonous) have been identified as host for aphids in Jamaica. The families most commonly used as hosts are the Asteraceae, Solanaceae, Malvaceae, Labiatae, Fabaceae and Poaceae. Below is a list of important plants and one of the aphids which commonly feed on them.

Some Important Plants and their Aphid Fauna HOST APHID Coffee (Coffea arabica), Toxoptera aurantii (black citrus aphid) Sugar cane (Saccharum Melanaphis sacchari (sugar cane aphid) officinarum) Banana (Musa sapientum) (banana aphid) Pepper (Capsicum annum) Aphis gossypii (cotton/ melon aphid) Oranges (Citrus sinensis). Toxoptera citricida (brown citrus aphid) Cabbage, Pak Choi (Brassica sp.) Cotton (Gossypium barbadense) Aphis gossypii (cotton/ melon aphid)

Agriculture Corn (Zea mays) Rhopalosiphum maidis (corn aphid) Tomato (Lycopersicon Macrosiphum euphorbiae (potato aphid) esculentum) Cucumber (Cumunis sativa) Aphis gossypii (cotton/ melon aphid) Cocoa (Theobroma cocoa) Toxoptera aurantii (black citrus aphid) Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Aphis gossypii (cotton/ melon aphid) Cow peas (Vigna ungiculata) Aphis craccivora (blackbean aphid) HOST APHID Shoeblack (Hibiscus Aphis gossypii (cotton/ melon aphid) rosasenensis) Roses (Rosa sp.) Chrysanthemum (Dendrathema Macrosiphoniella sanborni sp.) Ixora (Ixora coccinea) Aphis gossypii (cotton/ melon aphid) Grasses Hysteroneura setariae

Horticulture/ Forestry Horticulture/ Caribbean pine (Pinus caribea) Cinara atlantica

Over 25% of aphids in Jamaica can be regarded as pest of agricultural and

horticultural crops. They are regarded as pest either due to feeding pressure or

the transmission of viruses. Economically important plants affected by aphid-

transmitted viruses include citrus (Citrus Tristeza Virus) and pawpaw (Papaya

Ring Spot Virus). Many farmers in Jamaica control aphids with the use of

insecticides.

IDENTIFYING APHIDS

Aphids are identified mainly by their morphological features aided by the identity of the host plant (since many are host specific). Whole mounts are prepared after the specimens have been macerated, dehydrated and cleared. They are then examined microscopically. Relative lengths of various appendages, pattern and level of sclerotization and number of chaetae are some of the features used in identification. Figures 7, 8 & 9 shows Aphis nerii on its host and whole mounts of

the alate and apterous morphs.

Figure 7: Aphis nerii (body length 1-3mm) on french cotton (Calotropis procera)

A collection of whole mounts of aphids from Jamaica is housed in the

Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies.