Macrosiphum euphorbiellum

Alternative names
Macrosiphum amygdaloides
Description

Apterae are spindle-shaped and 2.0 - 4.0 mm long. They are usually green, with dark femoral apices ("knees") and long siphunculi that are dark only at the tips.  The sixth segment of each antenna has a terminal process that is 4.2 to 5.2 times the length of the base.

Alates are similar but also have brownish markings on the head and thorax.

Similar Species

Macrosiphum hellebori is similar but is unlikely to be found on Euphorbia.  The sixth segment of its antenna has a terminal process that is 6.4 to 7.9 times the length of the base.

Macrosiphum euphorbiae -- confusingly -- is not particularly associated with Euphorbia but it is widely polyphagous.  It lacks the dark "knees".

Macrosiphum rosae has all-black siphunculi.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Macrosiphum euphorbiellum lives year-round among the leaves of spurge, including the garden varieties Euphorbia amygdaloides and Euphorbia characias.

UK Status

Rare or under-recorded

VC55 Status

Rare or under-recorded

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
insect - true bug (Hemiptera)
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Hemiptera
Family:
Aphididae
Records on NatureSpot:
1
First record:
17/08/2024 (Smith, Peter)
Last record:
17/08/2024 (Smith, Peter)

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