Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Urbana, Illinois » Soybean/maize Germplasm, Pathology, and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #365573
Research Project: Integrated Management of Soybean Pathogens and Pests

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

Title: New record of the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on soybean in Zambia

Author
item Lagos-Kutz, Doris
item Hartman, Glen

Submitted to: International Journal of Tropical Insect Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/8/2020
Publication Date: 5/27/2020
Citation: Lagos-Kutz, D.M., Hartman, G.L. 2020. New record of the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on soybean in Zambia. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-020-00170-3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-020-00170-3

Interpretive Summary: The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii also known as the melon aphid, feeds on many different species of plants and has a worldwide distribution. This species, which is not common on soybean, is closely related to the soybean aphid, which is a different species that has a narrow host range. A recent collection of disease and pests found in soybean in Africa, found the cotton aphid colonizing soybean plants. This is the first report of the cotton aphid on soybeans in Zambia. This information is important to producers, entomologist and other researchers that follow distribution patterns of important pests.

Technical Abstract: Aphis gossypii Glover is a highly polyphagous aphid with a worldwide distribution. It is taxonomically challenging due to similar morphology to other Aphis species like and polymorphic variation (body size and color). It has been recorded throughout most of Africa on cotton (Gossypium spp.), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.), cucurbits (Cucurbita spp.) and pepper (Capsicum spp.), but not on soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr). In March of 2019, apterous viviparae (immature and adults, dwarf type) were found on soybean in Mpongwe, Zambia. The range of pair-wise distances of its mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 (Cox1) sequences (MN083247 and MN083248) and A. gossypii’s GenBank retrieved sequences was 0.0-0.1%. Morphological observations such as the ratios of antennae processus terminalis and base (2.2-2.6, n=5), and siphunculi and cauda (1.1-1.3, n=5)] confirmed the identity of this species.