This species is nearly cosmopolitan in distribution, but of significantly economic importance in warm-temperate, sub-tropical, and tropical climates.
This aphid is globally distributed, located in all but the coldest terrestrial habitats.
It has a broad host range, having been recorded from species of over 22 plant families.
It is particularly important on rice, corn, potato, and tomato but also attacks rosaceous crops such as plum and apricot. It has been implicated in the transmission of at least one plant virus.
See also. Taxonomy at Aphid Species File; Aphids on the World's Plants.
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.
Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominale (Sasaki, 1899)