Aphis craccivora

Overview

A polyphagous aphid species with a preference for Fabaceae.

Common names

Cowpea aphid, Black legume aphid, Groundnut aphid.

Distribution

Worldwide in distribution, but particularly common in warm temperate and tropical regions.

Host associations

Although this aphid species is very polyphagous, feeding on as many as 80 plant families, it appears to have a preference for the family Fabaceae.

Economic importance

It is particularly important on beans, peas, and groundnuts but also attacks a broad range of other crops such as crucifers, cucurbits, beets, and cardamon. It has been implicated in the transmission of over 50 plant viruses. One subspecies, Aphis craccivora pseudoacaciae, is recognized and feeds primarily on Asteraceae and Fabaceae.

Additional resources

See also. Taxonomy at Aphid Species File; Aphids on the World's Plants.

References

Blackman, R.L. and V.F. Eastop. 1994. Aphids on the World’s Trees. CAB International with The Natural History Museum, London. viii + 987 pages, 135 figures, 16 plates.

Blackman, R.L. and V.F. Eastop. 2000. Aphids on the World’s Crops, Second Edition. John Wiley & Sons with the Natural History Museum, London. x + 466 pages, 58 figures, 51 plates.

Blackman, R.L. and V.F. Eastop. 2006. Aphids on the World’s Herbaceous Plants and Shrubs. Volume 2 The Aphids. John Wiley & Sons with the Natural History Museum, London. viii + pages 1025–1439.

Chan, C.K., A.R. Forbes, and D.A. Raworth. 1991. Aphid-transmitted viruses and their vectors of the world. Agriculture Canada Technical Bulletin 1991–3E. 1–216 pp.

Holman, J. 2009. Host Plant Catalog of Aphids, Palaearctic Region. Springer Science and Business Media B.V. 1216 pp.

Voegtlin, D., W. Villalobos, M.V. Sanchez, G.Saborio, and C. Rivera. A Guide to the Winged Aphids of Costa Rica. 2003. International Journal of Tropical Biology and Conservation 51(Suppl. 2):xi + 228 pp.

Scientific name

Aphis craccivora Koch, 1854