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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Urbana, Illinois » Soybean/maize Germplasm, Pathology, and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #349290
Research Project: Integrated Management of Soybean Pathogens and Pests

Location: Soybean/maize Germplasm, Pathology, and Genetics Research

Title: Revision of the taxonomic status of Aphis floridanae Tissot (Hemiptera:Aphididae) using morphological and molecular insight

Author
item Lagos-Kutz, Doris
item HALBERT, SUSAN - Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services
item VOEGTLIN, DAVID - University Of Illinois
item Hartman, Glen

Submitted to: Insecta Mundi
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/19/2018
Publication Date: 4/27/2018
Citation: Lagos-Kutz, D.M., Halbert, S., Voegtlin, D., Hartman, G.L. 2018. Revision of the taxonomic status of Aphis floridanae Tissot (Hemiptera:Aphididae) using morphological and molecular insight. Insecta Mundi. 0627:1-10.

Interpretive Summary: Most aphid species have complex biology. Some feed on the same host plant all year round while others feed on many different host plants. Also, some migrate every summer from southern to northern states and do not have sexual stages. This complex biology makes it difficult to accurately identify aphid species. In this study, morphological and molecular approaches were used to identify three aphid species, which feed on multiple host plants. This study is important to researchers interested on biodiversity of insects and plants.

Technical Abstract: Three Aphis species are involved in this study. Aphis floridanae Tissot, 1933 and A. nasturtii Kaltenbach, 1843 are currently treated as synonym, and A. impatientis Thomas, 1878 has a valid taxonomic status. Morphological and cytochrome oxidase 1 (Cox1) data show that Aphis floridanae is not synonymous with A. nasturtii. Instead, A. floridanae matches the morphological characters of A. impatientis. Additionally, the range of cytochrome oxidase 1 (Cox1) pair-wise distance of the multiple collections of these Aphis species on Cornus spp., Impatiens spp. and Erechtites hieracifolious (L.) Raf. ex DC. is 0-0.39%. Therefore, we conclude that A. floridanae is a junior synonym of A. impatientis. In addition, A. impatientis is re-described, including the sexual morphs, apterous ovipara and alate male, collected on Cornus racemosa.