Large Knapweed Aphid - Uroleucon jaceae
This is a large blackish aphid that can appear dark metallic green. The abdominal tergites 2-4 often have small marginal tubercles. The femora have the basal half pale and distal half dark, with a rather sharp transition between them. The tibiae are totally black. The siphunculi are reticulated over the distal 0.16-0.27 of their length and are 1.3-1.8 times the length of the cauda. The cauda is dark and bears 18-30 hairs. The body length of apterae is 3.0-4.5 mm long.
The large knapweed aphid lives on various knapweeds (Centaurea spp.) and a few other species of Asteraceae, but not generally on other thistles.
May to September.
It is found across Europe to the Middle East and much of Asia.
Widespread and common in Britain.
Quite common in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Barbara Cooper
Long Clawson
05 July 2015
on Knapweed
Graham Calow
Ullesthorpe Stewardship Farm
15 June 2015
Graham Calow
Sapcote, Field behind William Spencer Avenue
01 June 2023
on Knapweed
Barbara Cooper
Long Clawson
05 July 2015
on Knapweed
Graham Calow
Ullesthorpe Stewardship Farm
15 June 2015
on the stems of Common Knapweed
David Nicholls
Grange Fields, Broughton
05 June 2015
on Common Knapweed
Andy's Rutland
Empingham garden
30 June 2017
Large Knapweed Aphid
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Species profile
- Species group:
- Bugs
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Hemiptera
- Family:
- Aphididae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 16
- First record:
- 05/06/2015 (Nicholls, David)
- Last record:
- 22/07/2024 (Cooper, Barbara)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
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Latest images
Latest records
Barbara Cooper
Long Clawson
05 July 2015
on Knapweed
Graham Calow
Sapcote, Field behind William Spencer Avenue
01 June 2023
on Knapweed
Andy's Rutland
Empingham garden
30 June 2017
Large Knapweed Aphid
Graham Calow
Ullesthorpe Stewardship Farm
15 June 2015
David Gould
The Spearwort Fields, Aylestone, Leicester
27 June 2015
