Separation of three Rubus‐feeding species of aphid — Sitobion fragariae (Wlk.), Macrosiphum funestum (Macch.) and Amphorophora rubi (Kalt.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) — by electrophoresis

Abstract

SummaryFour species of aphid infest wild and cultivated blackberry (Rubus fruticosus agg., R. lachiatus, etc) and other Rubus species in Britain and Continental Europe, ‐ Sitobion fragariae (Walker), Macrosiphum funestum (Macchiati), Amphorophora rubi (Kaltenbach) and Aphis ruborurn (Bösrner). The nymphs, especially the early instars, of the first three species are fairly difficult to differentiate morphologically. However, they can clearly be separated using electrophoresis. The present paper describes diagnostic enzyme/isoenzyme banding patterns which allow differentiation of the first three species as apterous and alate adults and their instars using two enzymes ‐ carboxylesterase (EST) and phosphatase (PHOS).