Potato Aphid

Potato Aphid - Macrosiphum euphorbiae

Description

The adult wingless form is large 1.7 to 3.6mm and an elongated pear shape. It ranges from light green, yellowish green to pinkish red. It often has a darker stripe down the centre of its back, especially in immature nymphs. This species has noticeably long legs and two long tubes (siphunculi) at the rear end. The tail (cauda) is also long and finger shaped. The winged form has a much less distinct central stripe. The antennae and siphunculi are darker than in the wingless forms.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

May be found on a wide variety of plants as it is highly polyphagous in the summer, feeding on over 200 plant species in more than 20 plant families.

When to see it

May to September is the peak time although it may overwinter as an adult.

Life History

The winged forms are produced in May and June.

UK Status

Thought to be fairly frequent and widespread in Britain.

VC55 Status

Thought to be fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

All NatureSpot records