''Megoura viciae '' is a large, green aphid in the family Aphididae native to Europe that feeds on plants in the genus '' Vicia''. They are commonly known as vetch aphids for this reason.

Taxonomy

''Megoura viciae'' was described by English entomologist

George Bowdler Buckton George Bowdler Buckton (24 May 1818, London – 25 September 1905, Haslemere, Surrey) was an English chemist and entomologist who specialised in aphids. Early Life Buckton was born in London and lived in Hornsey, England. He was the eldest so ...

in 1876. It is the type species of the genus ''

Megoura ''Megoura'' is a genus of aphid. References * Sternorrhyncha genera Macrosiphini {{Aphididae-stub ...

''.

Morphology

''Megoura viciae'' has a large globular green abdomen with a smaller black prothorax, black

cauda {{About, the musical feature The cauda is a characteristic feature of songs in the conductus style of '' a cappella'' music which flourished between the mid-12th and the mid-13th century. The conductus style placed strict rules on composition, and s ...

, black legs, black antennae and a black head. Towards the rear of the body are large crescent-shaped black sclerites which are in front of the

siphunculi The cornicle (or siphuncule) is one of a pair of small upright backward-pointing tubes found on the dorsal side of the 5th or 6th abdominal segments of aphids. They are sometimes mistaken for cerci. They are no more than pores in some species. ...

. The eyes are red in colour. Dependent on the stage in their lifecycle ''M. viciae '' may be winged or wingless.

Distribution and habitat

''Megoura viciae '' is widely present in Europe, from latitudes 64–65° N across Scandinavia, into Denmark and the rest of Europe (including England) and south to the Mediterranean. It also occurs in Ethiopia and has been recorded from North America.

Host plants

''Megoura viciae'' feeds on leguminous plants, primarily vetch, peas and broad beans of the genus '' Vicia'' from which ''M. viciae'' gets its common name of vetch aphids. Feeding on the host plant causes a leaf

gall Galls (from the Latin , 'oak-apple') or ''cecidia'' (from the Greek , anything gushing out) are a kind of swelling growth on the external tissues of plants, fungi, or animals. Plant galls are abnormal outgrowths of plant tissues, similar to be ...

to form.

Life cycle

''Megoura viciae'' does not move between primary and secondary plants, spending its life cycle on a leguminous host plant. Eggs are laid at the base of the host plant and these hatch in the spring. Winged forms are produced after three generations and these winged aphids then move on to other plants. In the autumn the aphids move on to the seed pods of the host plant. Like most aphids, ''M. viciae'' is viviparous.

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q10579992 Macrosiphini Hemiptera of Africa Hemiptera of Europe Hemiptera of North America Insects described in 1876