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| 1 | 2 |  » Stats |
Members: 50,148
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14-05-2009, 02:16 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wye Valley, Mid-Wales
Posts: 1,160
| | | Distinctive aphid on bramble.
Just found this feeding on a bramble leaf. I think its an aphid of some kind but I've never seen on quite like this.  
Size <2mm |
14-05-2009, 02:20 PM
|  | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London
Posts: 11,830
| | | Re: Distinctive aphid on bramble.
Surely it wasn't moving? I believe it's now a so-called ' Mummy', having been parasitised by a wasp of some type. It looks very puffed-up and to me the head and legs seems to be empty from the Hymenopteran's larvae feeding off the insides. I have a few on my brambles, too.
Keep an eye on the individual - you never know, you may even see the larvae eating their way out! Was this in your garden? If not, it should be OK to take the leaf with you and monitor it at home? It should gain the ' Exit hole' in a few days as they emerge. Get pictures if you can!
Google ' Mummified aphid' and have a look around...
Great photo BTW, very clear! 
Last edited by Jason Green; 14-05-2009 at 02:27 PM.
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14-05-2009, 02:58 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wye Valley, Mid-Wales
Posts: 1,160
| | | Re: Distinctive aphid on bramble.
Excellent thinking Jason, thanks, I must admit parasites hadn't even occurred to me  .
I can't see an exit hole yet so I've put the leaf in a jar and will see if anything emerges.
Cheers
Steve
ps. No it didn't move while I took the pics 
Last edited by Gerel; 14-05-2009 at 02:59 PM.
Reason: ps
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14-05-2009, 03:01 PM
| | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London
Posts: 11,830
| | | Re: Distinctive aphid on bramble.
Pleasure 
I took photos of my first Mummified individual back in February, unaware of Mummification too.
I will look forward to an update and photos! As for species - no idea, I believe the colour changes to this bronze regardless of species as I don't know of any that are this colour by default. We may get closer if you can take a photo of surrounding aphids, that way you may know at least on a statistical basis?
Last edited by Jason Green; 14-05-2009 at 03:05 PM.
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14-05-2009, 03:04 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Saddleworth
Posts: 4,134
| | | Re: Distinctive aphid on bramble.
Most interesting - mine are boring and mess up mi plants(ha)! 
But they can be pretty.
Ken 
__________________
Sensible Mole, said Ratty, perceiving Old Burton Beer..... |
14-05-2009, 04:01 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wye Valley, Mid-Wales
Posts: 1,160
| | | Re: Distinctive aphid on bramble.
Just checked the same plant again and found a few more "mummies" and this live one. 
The white blur on the rear of the "mummy" next to it appears to be part of the parasite larva, breathing tube perhaps. 
Steve |
14-05-2009, 04:17 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Northants
Posts: 3,289
| | | Re: Distinctive aphid on bramble.
Interesting post Steve. I've come across the empty husks of aphids with the little round exit holes and so await further pics from you with interest.
Bruce |
14-05-2009, 04:26 PM
| | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London
Posts: 11,830
| | | Re: Distinctive aphid on bramble.
Interesting photos there, Steve. The live one fits the profile of the Foxglove Aphid, Aulacorthum solani such as the long body and antennas held over the top of the body - yet lacks the correct shape around the lower thorasic area perhaps due to mumification? Or a different species  |
14-05-2009, 07:46 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Suffolk
Posts: 212
| | | Re: Distinctive aphid on bramble.
I don't think it's A. solani. The cornicles don't look long enough and each segment of the antennae should be distinctly dark at the end. If I can remember I'll check tomorrow what species live on Rubus. |
14-05-2009, 09:18 PM
| | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London
Posts: 11,830
| | | Re: Distinctive aphid on bramble.
If this is the one you're referring to... Quote:
Originally Posted by Gerel  Just checked the same plant again and found a few more "mummies" and this live one. | I don't know how reliable the cornicles could be length-wise if it has been parasitised? I'd have thought it's likely to appear generally distorted in body due to the ' fattening-up' post parasite-strike?
Look at his first photo for what I mean... Quote:
Originally Posted by Gerel | ...see how short the cornicles look? Way shorter than they would have been when it was alive? I think they must end up superceded in length by the bloating. I'm probably wrong though!
Yes, the antennas are a good key, and I agree it seems a bit different... I look forward to your findings there Jag.
Last edited by Jason Green; 14-05-2009 at 09:25 PM.
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