Metopeurum fuscoviride explained

Metopeurum fuscoviride, the pink tansy aphid, is an aphid of the family Aphididae. The species was first described by H.L.G. Stroyan in 1950.

Distribution

The species is widespread in parts of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Britain, North Germany, Spain, Bulgaria and Russia.[1]

Ecology

It can be found on tansy and occasionally Achillea millefolium. They feed of the stem of tansies and form large colonies there. On average a single insect produces 1 milligram of honeydew per hour. Compared to other aphids ants prefer collecting honeydew from Metopeurum fuscoviride.[2] Large colonies often get destroyed by parasitoids of the order Hymenoptera.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Heie, Ole Engel . 1995 . The Aphidoidea (Hemiptera) of Fennoscandia and Denmark. VI: Family Aphididae: Part 3 of Tribe Macrosiphini of Subfamily Aphidinae, and Family Lachnidae . . 81-83. 9004103546 .
  2. Hoffmann . Klaus . Fischer . Melanie . Völkl . Wolfgang . Lorenz . Matthias W. . Of Aphids and Ants . German Research . December 2003 . 25 . 3 . 20–23 . de . 0172-1526 . 1522-2322 . 10.1002/germ.200390027 .