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Title: A Taxonomic Re-evaluation of Ovatus mentharius(van der Goot) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Author
item Miller, Gary
item HALBERT, S. - FLORIDA DEPT. OF AGRIG.
item FOOTTIT, R. - ARIG. & AGRI-FOOD CANADA

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/31/2006
Publication Date: 6/28/2007
Citation: Miller, G.L., Halbert, S.E., Foottit, R.G. 2007. A taxonomic re-evaluation of ovatus mentharius(van der goot) (hemiptera: aphididae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 109(3):522-529.

Interpretive Summary: The feeding damage of aphids and their ability to transmit diseases cause billions of dollars yearly to commercial plants. This research clarifies the identity of a non-native species that has been previously misidentified in the U.S. It has been recently intercepted at various U.S. ports-of-entry and collected in greenhouses on mints in Florida. Florida collections represent the eastern-most U.S. records. This paper provides a key, species re-description, statistical analysis, and illustrations for identification. This information will be used by a variety of control and regulatory personnel especially at ports-of-entry.

Technical Abstract: The aphid genus Ovatus was previously considered monotypic in North America with O. crataegarius as the sole representative species. However, current studies determined that O. mentharius had been previously misidentified as O. crataegarius. Detailed keys for separating O. crataegarius and O. mentharius, descriptions of apterous viviparae and the alatae of O. mentharius, morphometric analysis, distribution records and illustrations of O. mentharius are presented.