Foxglove Aphid

Aulacorthum solani (Kaltenbach)

Hosts

Almost all dicotyledonous plants

Distribution

Worldwide

Economic Importance

An important vector of plant viruses

Identification

Winged females (alatae) have distinctive transverse striping on the dorsum of the abdomen but this is lacking in wingless females (apterae). Apterae are very similar to those of the lucerne aphids, Acyrthosiphon kondoi Shinji and A. pisum (Harris), both of which can be found occasionally on lettuce and other plants. They can be differentiated from these by the front of the head being spinulose in A. solani rather than smooth as in Acyrthosiphon spp. However, a good quality microscope is needed to see this feature and it is better to have the specimen slide mounted.