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Aphis fabae Scopoli
Doralis fabae

Insecta, Homoptera, Aphididae .

Beet leaf aphid, Bean aphid, Black bean aphid

Description, Biology, Life Cycle, Damage, Common Names, Images

[R]Description
Apterous adult (*) : body squat; 2 mm long; dull black to dark greenish; alatae more elongate with head and thorax shiny black; antennae not exceeding 2/3 of body length; oviparous females with distinctly swollen hind tibiae (*) .

[R]Biology
- Host plants: this aphid is one of the most polyphagous species: it can feed on more than 200 plants, including beet, broad bean, horse bean, bean, potato, carrot, artichoke, tobacco as well as certain flower crops and ornamentals.
- Winter eggs are deposited in autumn on the bark of European spindle (Euonymus europea), guelder rose (Viburnum opulus) or mock orange (Philadelphus sp.). In March, fundatrices give birth to apterae whose progeny includes an increasing proportion of winged individuals (*) .
From May onwards, winged virginoparae colonize numerous secondary host plants, depositing apterous nymphs on the underside of leaves or at the tips of stems. Aphid colonies increase rapidly until mid-June (*) , then declining progressively due to the action of parasites and predators.
Winged sexuparae appear in autumn and return to primary hosts; fertilization and egg-laying occur during October.

[R]Life Cycle
- Several generations follow one another on Euonymus before alatae migrate to secondary host plants. Delayed migration and absence of infestations can be put down to cold. During the month following the initial infestation of the secondary host, aphid numbers increase rapidly. Such hosts remains heavily infested for about 6 weeks.
- Apterous virgins are able to overwinter in regions with mild climate, allowing the species to survive without sexual phase. Also, migration is not obligatory, the aphids being able to live on Euonymus throughout the year.

[R]Damage
- Leaves of beet become swollen, roll and cease developing (*) . Roots develop imperfectly and sugar content is lower. Aphids also spread to inflorescences of seed plants and hamper seed formation. Honeydew is produced and sooty moulds develop on it.
- Aphids infest all parts of other plants but do not distort leaves. Growth is affected and flowers abort due to the action of toxic saliva.
- A. fabae is also a vector of certain virus diseases.

[R]Common Names
DE: Schwarze Bohnenblattlaus, Schwarze Rübenblattlaus ES: Pulgon negro de las habas y judias FR: Puceron noir de la fève IT: Afide nero delle leguminose e della barbabietola PT: Piolho negro da fava GB: Black bean aphid, Bean aphid, Beet leaf aphid

[R] Images

  1. Aphis fabae Scopoli (Coutin R. / OPIE)
    Colony of fundatrigeniae On a primary host-plant (spindle) before migration occurs. Leaves are distinctly crinkled.
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  2. Aphis fabae Scopoli (Coutin R. / OPIE)
    Colony on beet On the underside of a crinkled leaf.
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  3. Aphis fabae Scopoli (Coutin R. / OPIE)
    Colony on broad bean

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