tags: - public-ready - export-bio - index
Aphids — UK Commercial Species Index
Overview
This page summarises key aphid species and aphid groups relevant to UK commercial horticulture, protected crops, soft fruit, ornamentals and nursery stock.
Aphid identification matters because different species vary in:
- host crop range
- virus transmission risk
- biological control suitability
- temperature response
- colony growth speed
- crop damage pattern
Key aphid species and groups
Cotton aphid
Common in protected crops, cucurbits, ornamentals and soft growth.
Green peach aphid
Important because of broad host range and virus transmission potential.
Rose aphid
Relevant in ornamentals and nursery stock.
Woolly aphid
Important in woody hosts, particularly apple systems.
Root aphids
Hidden aphid group associated with root-zone feeding and difficult detection.
Black bean aphid
Common on beans, ornamentals and weed hosts; capable of dense dark colonies on soft growth.
Willow-carrot aphid
Relevant to carrots, umbellifer crops and willow-associated migration cycles.
Potato aphid
A larger aphid species relevant to potatoes, tomatoes, ornamentals and protected crops.
Glasshouse potato aphid
Important in protected crops and ornamentals, especially where mild conditions support ongoing reproduction.
Strawberry aphid
Important in strawberry systems because of virus transmission relevance and protected crop pressure.
Large raspberry aphid
Relevant in cane fruit systems and associated with raspberry virus management.
Cherry blackfly
Dark aphid species associated with cherries and vigorous spring shoot growth.
Shallot aphid
Associated with allium crops and protected propagation systems.
Blueberry aphid
Relevant in blueberry systems and soft fruit IPM monitoring.
Foeniculum aphid
Umbellifer-associated aphid relevant to herb and fennel production systems.
Phorodon cannabis aphid
Specialist aphid associated with cannabis and hemp production systems, particularly in protected environments.
Mediterranean mint aphid
Aphid species associated with mint, herbs and protected aromatic crop systems.
IPM relevance
Aphid programmes should consider:
- crop type
- aphid species
- colony position
- winged aphid movement
- virus risk
- soft growth flushes
- nitrogen-driven growth
- parasitoid suitability
- predator support
- crop stage sensitivity
Biological control relevance
Common aphid biological control agents include:
Environmental drivers
Aphid pressure is often associated with:
- Spring flush
- Plant stress
- Temperature
- soft nitrogen-rich growth
Related BioWiki pages
Use this page alongside
Commonly affected crops
Related Aphid Resources
Other Interesting Aphid Species
The following aphid species are occasionally encountered in horticulture, ornamental production or wider agricultural systems but are generally less important than the major commercial species listed above.
Mallow Aphid (Acyrthosiphon malvae)
Associated primarily with mallow and hollyhock species. Occasionally abundant on ornamental plantings.
Black Cherry Aphid (Myzus cerasi)
Often referred to as Cherry Blackfly in horticultural production.
Important pest of cherries and the cause of cherry blackfly infestations on young shoots.
Primary host plants include sweet cherry, sour cherry and ornamental Prunus species.
Plum Leaf-curl Aphid (Brachycaudus helichrysi)
Associated with plums and stone fruit. Feeding causes characteristic leaf curling and distortion.
Damson-Hop Aphid (Phorodon humuli)
Alternates between Prunus hosts and hops. Important in commercial hop production.
Lupin Aphid (Macrosiphum albifrons)
A large and distinctive aphid species commonly found on lupins. Frequently encountered by gardeners and landscape managers due to its size and dense colonies.
English Grain Aphid (Sitobion avenae)
A major aphid pest of cereals and grass crops. Important in agricultural systems but less relevant to protected horticulture.
Bird Cherry-Oat Aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi)
Common cereal aphid and important vector of Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV).