Pemphigus populinigrae agg.

Description

The fundatrices of the aphid Pemphigus populinigrae induce yellowish or dull reddish broad pouch-shaped galls on the midrib of the upperside of leaves of poplar (mainly Black Poplar and Lombardy Poplar). Mature galls are rounded and smooth on top and are sometimes partially subdivided The galls of Pemphigus populinigrae are usually located near the middle of the leaf and open on the underside of the leaf. The fundatrices are green or greyish green, and have no siphunculi. They have 4-segmented antennae which are about 0.17 times the length of the body.  There are a number of aphids producing very similar galls on these poplar species notably P. phenax and P. gari.  Identification to species level is very difficult, requiring expert examination to identify winged adults and for this reason we have decided to treat this group as a species aggregate.

Identification difficulty

Gall Aphid

ID guidance

Gall must be situated on the midrib of the upperside of the leaf not on the petiole

Recording advice

Identification to species level is very difficult, requiring expert examination to identify winged adults. For all other records please record as the species aggregate.

Habitat

Galls can be encountered on the leaves of Black Poplar and Lombardy Poplar.

When to see it

Galls can be seen when the host trees are in leaf.

UK Status

Status in Britain is difficult to determine due to lack of records.

VC55 Status

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

This species or aggregate is not available on the NBN Atlas currently

Species profile

Species group:
Bugs
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Hemiptera
Family:
Aphididae
Records on NatureSpot:
11
First record:
09/06/2019 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
14/08/2023 (Calow, Graham)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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