Aphis esulae ( Börner, 1940 )

Stekolshchikov, Andrey V., 2024, A contribution to the aphid fauna (Homoptera, Aphidinea) of the Republic of Dagestan (the Russian Federation), with descriptions of three new species, redescription of Macrosiphum pulcherimum Nevsky, 1928, and descriptions of previously unknown morphs of three species, Zootaxa 5545 (1), pp. 1-68 : 31

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.