D. platanoides

Drepanosiphum platanoides (Schrank, 1801)

Common sycamore aphid

Drepanosiphum platanoidis : larve
Drepanosiphum platanoidis : adulte ailé
Drepanosiphum platanoidis : ovipare
Drepanosiphum platanoides parasité par Discritulus planiceps

Morphological characters

3.2-4.3 mm.
Large elongate aphid, greenish to yellow. All parthenogenetic adults are alate.
Larva: antennae ringed, longer than body, cornicles long and broad.
Alate: antennae dark, longer than body, abdomen with or without dark stripes, cornicles long and broad, cauda knobbed.

See identification file

Life cycles

Monoecious holocyclic.

Host plants

Acer pseudoplatanus (sycamore) and other Acer.

Particular characteristics

Drepanosiphum platanoides abundant on Acer pseudoplatanus, colonizes undersides of leaves. This species becomes a nuisance because it produces large amounts of honeydew.

The sexual forms appear in autumn. The egg is laid in November, December. It hatches when buds begin to break. Larvae move around on underside of growing leaves.

Colonies are controlled by a range of predators and several species of parasitoids.

Ennemis naturels

Parasitoids
  • Aphelinus thomsoni
  • Discritulus planiceps
  • Monoctonus pseudoplatani
  • Trioxys cirsii

In this folder

Modification date : 22 May 2024 | Publication date : 29 May 2017 | Redactor : Evelyne Turpeau, Maurice Hullé, Bernard Chaubet