Myzus persicae subsp. nicotianae

Tobacco aphid

Peach-potato aphid Myzus persicae subsp. nicotianae
Peach-potato aphid Myzus persicae subsp. nicotianae

General

The tobacco aphid (Myzus persicae subsp. nicotianae) probably evolved from the peach potato aphid in the Far East and is a key pest of tobacco crops in both the United States and South America. The tobacco aphid (Myzus persicae subsp. nicotianae) is also encountered in a range of crops in greenhouses, such as sweet pepper, aubergine, chrysanthemum, and various pot plants and cut flower crops.

About Tobacco aphid

Life cycle and appearance of Tobacco aphid

Aphids have a complex life cycle, with both winged and wingless forms of adults and a great variety in colour. When reproduction is asexual, the young aphids are born as developed nymphs. They immediately start to feed on plant sap and grow rapidly. Aphids moult four times before reaching adulthood. With each moult they shed white skin, betraying their presence in the crop.

The wingless tobacco aphids (Myzus persicae subsp. nicotianae) are always pink or red. They appear matt, never glossy. Winged individuals have a brown-black head and thorax and a reddish abdomen. There is a dark brown spot on the abdomen and several transverse black bands across the body. The antennae are 0.7-1.0 times the body length, reaching to the siphunculi. The body length is 1.2-2.3 mm.