Acyrthosiphon species

Two species of Acyrthosiphon are occasionally found on lettuce in Australia, although they do not establish colonies and are probably vagrants from neighbouring clover or lucerne plants.

Acyrthosiphon lactucae (Passerini) has not been recorded in Australia. It is found in Europe, the Middle East and throughout North America. This species feeds primarily on the stem and occasionally the undersides of leaves of species of Lactuca. It has a grey waxy covering in life and is a vector of lettuce mosaic virus  (Blackman, Eastop and Kibby 1997). Any aphid that might be this species needs to be examined by a specialist.

Ref: Blackman, R.L., Eastop V.F. and Kibby, G.G. (1997) Taxakey: Aphids on the World’s Crops. CAB International, Wallingford UK.