Black-banded plum aphid

Brachycaudus prunicola

1. Identification

• Common name: Black-banded plum aphid
• Scientific name: Brachycaudus prunicola Kaltenbach
• Order: Hemiptera
• Family: Aphididae

2. Pest description

• Apterous adults: Oval body, yellowish-green to light green colouring; presence of dark bands on the abdomen; short, dark siphunculi; pale cauda.
• Alate adults: Darkened head and thorax; transparent wings; yellowish-green body with clearly visible dark abdominal bands.
• Nymphs: Similar to apterous adults, but smaller and with paler colouring.

3. Main hosts

• Prunus spp., especially plum.
• Also recorded on peach, apricot and other Rosaceae.

4. Symptoms and damage

• Curling and deformation of young leaves.
• Reduced vegetative vigour and stunted growth.
• Formation of dense colonies on terminal shoots.
• Excretion of honeydew, favouring sooty mould.
• Potential for transmission of viruses associated with Prunus spp.

5. Biological cycle

• Species with several generations per year.
• Parthenogenetic reproduction during much of the year.
• Populations increase in mild climates and on young, tender shoots.
• May migrate between herbaceous secondary hosts, depending on the region.

6. Monitoring

• Direct observation of young shoots and curled leaves.
• Assessment of the presence of colonies, honeydew and sooty mould.
• Counting of individuals per shoot to support decision-making in integrated protection.

7. Management measures

• Cultural: Removal of heavily infested shoots; sanitation pruning; elimination of alternative hosts.
• Biological: Conservation of beneficials such as Coccinellidae, Syrphidae and parasitoids Aphidiinae.
• Integrated protection: Intervention only when population levels justify it; preference for selective methods compatible with beneficials.

Bibliographic references

• Blackman, R. L., & Eastop, V. F. (2000). Aphids on the World’s Crops: An Identification and Information Guide. Wiley.
• Blackman, R. L., & Eastop, V. F. (2006). Aphids on the World’s Herbaceous Plants and Shrubs. Wiley.
• van Emden, H. F., & Harrington, R. (2017). Aphids as Crop Pests (2nd ed.). CABI.
• Dixon, A. F. G. (1998). Aphid Ecology: An Optimization Approach. Chapman & Hall.