TWO CLOVER APHIDS' 



By Edith M. Patch, \ 



Entomologist, Maine Agricultural Experiment Station 



It recently came to my attention that two distinct species of clover 

 aphids are rather generally confused in collections under the name 

 "Aphis bakeri." As the range of both species extends nearly, if not quite, 

 across the continent, it is a matter of more than local interest that this 

 confusion should be straightened out. Specimens have been received 

 from Messrs. J. J. Davis, A. Maxson, and H. F. Wilson, and I am in- 

 debted to Prof. C. P. Gillette for reading the manuscript and for the 

 determination as to which species should properly be known as Aphis 

 bakeri. 



I have been unable to secure a type specimen of Aphis brevis for 

 examination, although through the kindness of Dr. L. O. Howard, Chief 

 of the Bureau of Entomology, and Mr. H. Hayward, Director of the 

 Delaware Experiment Station, a thorough search was made both at Wash- 

 ington and at Newark. I feel confident, however, that Prof. Sanderson's 

 careful description and figures ^ are sufficient to enable us to refer the 

 long-beaked dover aphid to that species with safety. 



Aphis brevis Sanderson (Long-beaked clover aphid). 



In the vicinity of Orono, Me., the leaves of the hawthorn {Crataegus 

 spp.) in June are commonly twisted into dark-purple swollen curls and 

 are inhabited by an aphid the fall migrants of which were described by 

 Prof. Sanderson as Aphis brevis.^ This insect takes flight from haw- 

 thorn during June and early July and returns late in the season before 

 producing the sexual generation. I have taken the fall migrants on cul- 

 tivated plum (Primus spp.), but as yet have made no spring collections 

 from that host. In June and July, 1906, I collected apparently the same 

 species from the twigs and terminal leaf curls of the Japan quince 

 {Cydonia japonica). 



Not being able to find characters to separate these collections from 

 certain specimens labeled "Aphis bakeri" received from the Middle West, 

 I undertook some transfer tests during the summer of 191 2, and found 

 that my A phis brevis accepted both alsike and other clover {Trifoliumspp.) . 

 Migrants placed on alsike and white clover produced nymphs that fed 

 with apparent satisfaction on the test plants. The potted white clover 

 was, however, more easily managed in the laboratory, so it was selected 

 for the main rearings. The transfer was made on June 14. The migrants 

 fed on the clover, and their abdomens became distended. At this time 

 the head, thorax, and cornicles were black, and abdomens olive green, 

 with distinct black lateral dots. By June 21 their abundant progeny 

 were established on both stem and runner. The nymphs at first were pale 

 and pellucid, with rosy head and prothorax. By June 24 this generation 

 had matured, but did not begin to reproduce for a day or two. By June 



* Papers from the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station: Entomolojn^ No. 76. 



» Sanderson. E. Dwight. Report of the entomologist. In Del. Agr. Exp. Sta. ijtli Ann. Rpt. [1900) /or, 

 p. 157-158. 1901. 



Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. Ill, No. 5 



Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. Feb. 15. 1915 



Maine — 3 



(431) 



