APHIDS on tobacco 



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By F. R. Lawson and F. S. Chamberlin, Entomology Research Branch, 

 Agricultural Research Service 



Aphids are pests of tobacco 

 wherever the crop is grown in the 

 United States. They injure the 

 growing tobacco leaves and may 

 spread tobacco virus diseases. 



The aphid that attacks tobacco 

 is the green peach aphid. 1 Among 

 tobacco growers it is commonly 

 known as the tobacco aphid or 

 tobacco louse. It is a soft-bodied, 

 sucking insect about the size of a 

 cabbage seed. It can be controlled 

 by applying insecticides or, in 

 some areas, by cultural practices. 



LIFE CYCLE OF APHIDS 



In Southern States 



In the Southern States the 

 aphids are nearly all females. The 

 adults deposit their young, which 



Green peach aphid, 



almost grown. 



wingless 



for 



Nymph, 



are called nymphs, on various 

 host plants. Most of the nymphs 

 develop into green, wingless 

 adults, which in turn produce 

 another generation of wingless 



1 Myzus persicae (Sulz.). 



females. The adults and nymphs 

 of the wingless form look alike. 



The other nymphs develop into 

 blackish, winged adults. 



Successive generations of fe- 

 males, mainly wingless, are pro- 



Green peach aphid, winged form: Above, adult; 

 below, nymph. 



duced throughout the year. This 

 pattern of development is preva- 

 lent as far north as Tennessee 

 and Maryland. 



The host plants in the fall, 

 winter, and early spring are cab- 

 bage, collard, turnip, wild mus- 

 tards, and dock. In the spring, 

 winged aphids fly to tobacco. 



In Colder Climates 



In the colder climates, a gen- 

 eration of males and egg-laying 

 females develops in the fall. The 

 eggs are laid mostly on peach, 

 wild plum, and wild cherry trees ; 



