Brown pear aphid

Melanaphis pyraria

1. Identification

• Common name: Pear aphid.
• Scientific name: Melanaphis pyraria Passerini
• Order: Hemiptera
• Family: Aphididae

2. Pest description

• Apterous adults: Oval body, greyish-green to light brown; dark and short siphunculi; clear and well-defined cauda.
• Alate adults: Dark head and thorax; transparent wings; lighter abdomen.
• Nymphs: Similar to apterous adults, but smaller and lighter.

3. Main hosts

• Pear trees.
• It may occur on other spontaneous Rosaceae.

4. Symptoms and damage

• Curling and deformation of young leaves.
• Dense colonies on the lower side of leaves and on the shoots.
• Abundant excretion of honeydew, favouring sooty mould.
• Reduction of vigour and growth delay in intense attacks.

5. Biological cycle

• Species generally anholocyclic in temperate climates, with continuous parthenogenetic reproduction.
• Multiple annual generations, with population peaks in mild climate.
• It may overwinter as a nymph on woody hosts.

6. Monitoring

• Direct observation of the lower side of leaves and of young shoots.
• Assessment of colony density and presence of honeydew.
• Counting of individuals per leaf or per shoot to support the decision.

7. Management measures

• Cultural: Removal of heavily infested shoots; control of spontaneous hosts; improvement of canopy ventilation.
• Biological: Conservation of beneficials such as Coccinellidae, Syrphidae and Aphidiinae parasitoids.
• Integrated protection: Intervention only when necessary; preference for selective products 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.