Sipha (Rungsia) maydis Passerini 1860

Halbert, Susan E., Miller, Gary L. & Ames, Lisa M., 2013, The genus Sipha Passerini (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in North America, Insecta Mundi 2013 (326), pp. 1-6 : 3

Sipha (Rungsia) maydis Passerini 1860 ( Fig. 12–15 )

This species is known to be a pest of cereal crops, particularly in drier/warmer climates. It is reported to be a vector of the BYD virus complex ( El Yamani and Hill 1991) and can cause direct feeding damage ( Fig 12 – 13 ). It is reported throughout the Mediterranean region, into Central and South Asia, South Africa, and South America (Blackman and Eastop 2000, 2006; Corrales et al. 2007). This species is recognized easily by its black color and completely sclerotized dorsum.

This species was discovered in North America in California in 2007 ( Sorensen 2007). It was found in Georgia in November 2012 on wheat in a greenhouse (observation by LMA, FSCA# E2012-9123). Sipha maydis also has been intercepted at the Florida Agricultural Interdiction Stations as phoretic alatae on lettuce from California in 2011 and 2012 (FSCA#s E2011-5477, E2012-3133, E2012-3195). The New World and African records indicate that this species probably moves readily in commerce.

Figures

Figures 10-17. 1) Slide mounted Sipha elegans del Guercio alate. Photograph: Susan Halbert and Lyle J Buss, University of Florida, Gainesville. 11) Slide mounted Sipha elegans del Guercio aptera. Photograph: Susan Halbert and Lyle J Buss, University of Florida, Gainesville. 12) Colony of ant -tended Sipha maydis Passerini on wheat. Photograph: Lisa M. Ames. 13) Close up of Sipha maydis Passerini colony with adults, immature stages, and feeding damage. Photograph: Lisa M. Ames. 14) Slide mounted Sipha maydis Passerini alate. Photograph: Susan Halbert and Lyle J Buss, University of Florida, Gainesville. 15) Slide mounted Sipha maydis Passerini aptera. Photograph: Susan Halbert and Lyle J Buss, University of Florida, Gainesville. 16) Dorsum of Sipha glyceriae (Kaltenbach) from Europe, showing denticles. Photograph:Susan Halbert. 17) Dorsum of Sipha flava (Forbes) showing lack of denticles. Photograph: Susan Halbert.