Eriosomatine aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Eriosomatinae) associated with moss and roots of conifer and willow in forests of the Pacific Northwest of North America

Abstract

Apterous adult morphs of eriosomatine aphids associated with moss (Bryophyta) and/or roots of conifer (Pinaceae) or willow (Salix Linnaeus (Salicaceae)) in forests of the North American Pacific Northwest including Alaska are described, illustrated, and keyed. In total, seven species (Clydesmithia canadensis Danielsson, Melaphis rhois (Fitch) (moss only feeder), Pachypappa rosettei (Maxson), Pachypappa sacculi (Gillette), Prociphilus americanus (Walker) (fir root only feeder), Prociphilus xylostei (De Geer), and Thecabius populimonilis (Riley)) are characterised from their secondary host habitats. Secondary host forms of C. canadensis and T. populimonilis are described for the first time. The morphotypes from the secondary hosts were confirmed through deoxyribonucleic acid sequence matching with those from the primary hosts.

Cryptic species in the aphid genusMelaphisWalsh (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Eriosomatinae)

“…Known moss hosts include Haplocladium microphyllum (Hedwig) Brotherus (Leskeaceae) (Moran 1989), Dicranum scoparium Hedwig (Dicranaceae), Rhytidiadelphus loreus (Hedwig) Warnstorf (Hylocomiaceae) (Pike et al . 2012), and Polytrichum juniperinum Hedwig (Polytrichaceae) (our observations). We have observed feeding on the moss rhizoids in contact with the rock substrate, but the label on a slide from North Carolina, United States of America in the USNM states “feeding in leaf axils”.…”

“…Apterae on moss are distinguished by tarsal fusion and wax-gland pattern, as in the key by Pike et al . (2012). Other apterous forms are easily distinguished by the obligatory association with Rhus .…”

Host Plants Influence the Symbiont Diversity of Eriosomatinae (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

“…However, in the present study, only a few samples harboured these symbionts, and they did so at extremely low abundance (<0.05%); this value was lower than that detected in Hormaphidinae (<1%) [93]. Most species in Eriosomatinae induce galls on their primary host plants or live in the roots of their secondary host plants [64,67,69,[94][95][96][97][98]. Galls or living underground can provide protection against parasitoids and predators to the inducer aphid and its offspring [99][100][101][102], the biological role of which is similar to that of defensive symbionts.…”

Identification guide to Nordic aphids associated with mosses, horsetails and ferns (Bryophyta, Equisetophyta, Polypodiophyta) (Insecta, Hemiptera, Aphidoidea)

“…Diagnosis based on Pike et al (2012). resembling Pachypappella lactea but marginal wax gland plates on segments 1-6 in six longitudinal rows (in P. lactea in four rows on segments 3-6).…”