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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