family: aphididae
species: myzus persicae
common names: green peach aphid
antennae characters: well developed
specialties: honeydew, tubercules on antennae turn inward
hosts: peaches, tomatoes, potatoes, most vegetables, cole crops
natural enemies: nabidae, hippodamia convergens, aphidius matricariae, aphid predatory midges, aphidoletes aphidimyza, and ladybeetles, hippodamia convergens
pesticides used: cygon (dimethoate), monitor (methomidiphos); esfenvalarate & other pyrethroids not as effective; soap organic but expensive, 50% efficacy
notes: may spread alfalfa mosaic virus; has blunt cauda and short blackcornicles; fifty aphids per leaf is tolerable.

Green Peach Aphids (GPA) and Pea Aphids The GPA is very characteristic dirty green with black bands on the back in its alate form. The non-alates are less easy to distinguish varying from light green to pink. Population peaks in the beginning of August. Leaf- roll virus is vectored by GPA and can be very devastating. Lemon (or cotton) aphid on middle leaves can also transfer viruses. Sources of leaf- roll virus can be: volunteers, cull piles (main source), backyard gardens, PLRV-infected seed. High aphid populations (as when they build up on sugar beets) assist in vectoring the pathogen. Control strategy: plant certified seed, control volunteers, establish aphid threshold (based on seed source, presence of volunteers, region, annual expert consulting), the use of geographic information systems. Potato aphids are a little longer, have a more elongate abdomen and has cornicles that run more parallel when compared to the GPA. PA also tends to inhabit the upper sides of leaves and GPA the undersides.

Aphidius parasitoids have some impact on aphids, syrphid fly larvae can take out a dozen per day as can large coccinellid larvae and adults.

THE FOLLOWING (UNTIL OTHERWISE NOTED) IS FROM: GERBER, H.S. 1983.
MAJOR INSECT AND ALLIED PESTS OF VEGETABLES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD.

Green Peach Aphid

Myzus persicae (Sulzer) The green peach aphid is a major pest of potatoes because it spreads disease.

Vegetables attacked:

Most vegetables, potato

Injury:

The green peach aphid is of special importance because it is the carrier of potato leaf-roll virus, a major disease of potatoes. Aphids become infected with virus after feeding for a few days and remain infective throughout their lives. The virus is not passed from one generation to reinfection.

Insect:

The green peach aphid is almond-shaped, light green or yellow. Winged adults have black markings on the abdomen and a black thorax. Green peach aphids are commonly found on the undersurface of the lower leaves. It can easily be distinguished from the potato aphid, which does not spread leaf-roll virus. The latter is larger and is found on the undersides of the upper leaves or near the leaf tips.

Life History:

The green peach aphid normally overwinters as shiny black eggs on twigs and buds of stone-fruit trees. In the Lower Fraser Valley, it overwinters in the summer form on sugar beets and weeds. Two generations develop on the winter host in the spring. In July, aphids migrate to the summer hosts, which include ornamentals, cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, turnips, and potatoes. Several generations develop on the summer hosts. In the fall, a winged generation develops which returns to the tree
hosts.

Control:

The green peach aphid should be controlled throughout the growing season to reduce the spread of leaf-roll virus. To help reduce the introduction of leaf-roll virus into a field: plant only certified seed, destroy volunteer plants, rogue frequently and remove diseased plants, top-kill early.

Leaf-roll virus can spread rapidly if foliar treatments to control the green peach aphid are not properly timed and applied frequently. Populations of local and migrant aphids increase quickly because insecticides applied against these aphids also kill their predators. Consideration should be given to applying granular systemic insecticides either at planting or seeding, or later as a side dressing.

THE FOLLOWING (UNTIL OTHERWISE NOTED) IS FROM: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada .
IPM information appropriate for BC can be found at" wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/vir/pp/ipmweb/index.htm
Insect Identification Sheet No. 51 March 1981

Pea Aphid

Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris)

The pea aphid is found from Nova Scotia to British Columbia wherever peas are grown. While causing minimal damage to its primary hosts, alfalfa and clover, it is an important pest of its secondary host, peas. All types of peas are attacked; commercial plots, being larger, are especially susceptible.

Injury:

Both adults and nymphs feed by sucking the plant sap. When peas are lightly infested, even though yields may be normal, the quality of the peas is adversely affected. In severe infestation, bronzy patches spread throughout the pea field as plants wilt and die. Yield as well as quality is seriously affected. Often when pea aphids are abundant, the ground takes on a whitish appearance from the skins they have shed. Pea aphids may also transmit several viral pea diseases.

Life History:

Pea aphids overwinter as eggs on the crowns of clover or alfalfa. Eggs hatch early in the spring into small, wingless female aphids. When full size these aphids, called "stem mothers", parthenogenically give birth to other wingless females. This type of reproduction continues until the pea plant is blossoming. At this time, both winged and wingless aphids are produced. The winged aphids leave the alfalfa and clover and fly to the peas where they feed. In the fall, after several more generations of wingless aphids, winged forms are again produced. These fly back to the clover and alfalfa where they produce both male and female aphids. These mate, and the females lay their eggs on the crowns of the primary hosts. There are seven to fifteen generations per year.

Pest Management:

For information on the control of this insect consult with a provincial Pesticide Management Officer or District Agronomist.

see also:

• http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/epd/epdpa/ipmp/Brochures/aphid2.htm
• http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/epd/epdpa/eripm/landshtm/Chap9.htm