Tobacco Aphid, Myzus nicotianae (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Plant infested with aphid

Tobacco mosaic virus

Wingless and winged aphid both can be seen in the field. Winged aphids fly to plants and being producing wingless young ones called as nymphs. Wingless, aphids are soft bodied, pink to red, pale green to yellow-green, pear-shaped, and only about 1/16 inch long when full grown. Most aphids are wingless even as adults, but darker, winged forms may also be produced. Aphids have beak-like mouthparts through which they suck plant juices. In addition, they produce a sticky waste product, honeydew, on which sooty mold develop which interfere light reception by the leaves consequently reduce the photosynthesis. As a result of these factors, both yield and quality may be reduced. (This and other species of aphids may also transmit certain virus diseases.)

Infestations are characterized by the presence of aphids (mostly on the underside of upper leaves), shiny or greasy honeydew deposits on the upper surface of leaves, and sooty mold. In recent years, the red (pink) form of the tobacco aphid has become much more prevalent than the green form.

 

 

Photo courtesy by Bapuji Arcot