Brown Sowthistle Aphid

Uroleucon sonchi (Linnaeus)

Hosts

Primarily sowthistle, Sonchus oleraceus, but common on some other Asteraceae, including lettuce.

Distribution

Worldwide but only recorded in Australia within the last ten years.

Identification

Large, dark aphid with a glossy shine. Apical section of the siphunculi with reticulations. Superficially similar to the rose aphid, Macrosiphum rosae L., which also has apically reticulated siphunculi and is dark in colour but M. rosae is almost entirely restricted to roses and is not found on lettuce.