BULLETIN 282 

 THREE PINK AND GREEN APHIDS OF THE ROSE* 



Edith M. Patch 



For many years after Linnaeus gave "the" rose aphid the 

 specific name of rosae, this term proved sufficiently elastic to 

 embrace all the large green or pink aphids found upon the rose. 

 Just how many of these there may prove to be when the sub- 

 ject has been entirely covered it is still too soon to say. 



It is certain, however, that there are at least three species 

 of the genus Macrosiphum common on the rose in Maine and 

 that each of these has two distinct color varieties, one pink and 

 one green. 



Of these M. rosae proper is not known to migrate and it 

 does maintain a continuous residence upon the rose. This cir- 

 cumstance would not preclude the possibility that it has a sec- 

 ondary food plant which is used as a summer resort for it is 

 not uncommon for a species with a definite spring and fall mi- 

 gration to and from the summer food plant to continue also to 

 colonize its primary food plant (that upon which the overwin- 

 tering egg is placed) during the summer months. 



The second of the pink and green rose aphids, Macrosi- 

 phum solanifolii, also deposits its eggs upon the rose in the fall 

 where it may be found in heavy colonies during the spring and 

 early summer, when it migrates for the most part to a great 

 variety of summer plants, though it may, besides, keep up its 

 connection with the rose during the summer. In Maine, and 

 in perhaps most other parts of the United States, this species 

 works greater havoc in potato fields than on other vegetation. 



The heavy infestation of the potato may be encouraged by 

 the well nigh universal abundance of these plants putting forth 

 their most succulent growth at the time M. solanifolii migrates 

 from the rose ; a*nd its threat against this crop is evidently a 



*Papers from the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station : Ento- 

 mology No. 102. 



