Aphis esulae (Börner, 1940)

Material. KSB: 7.ix.2023, Euphorbia virgata Waldst. & Kit., at ends of stems and on pedicels, apt.

Comments. Aphids from Dagestan have some differences from typical Aphis esulae —they have slightly shorter setae, a different shape of the ultimate segment of rostrum, and also have a number of sclerotized areas on the tergites of the abdomen in front of the siphunculi. Aphis esulae is a member of the difficult Aphis euphorbiae group, which includes a number of difficult to distinguish species (Blackman & Eastop 2024). Our current knowledge is insufficient to say with certainty whether Aphis esulae is a highly variable species or a complex of closely related taxonomic forms associated with different Euphorbia species and geographic areas.