Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominale

rdf:langString Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominale

rdf:langString Rice root aphid

rdf:langString

rdf:langString Rhopalosiphum

rdf:langString Nymphs on the underside of a leaf

rdf:langString rufiabdominale

rdf:langString * R. rufiabdominalis * R. californica * R. gnaphalii * R. mume * R. oryzae * R. papaveri * R. setigera * R. shelkovnikovi * R. splendens * R. subterraneum * Toxoptera rufiabdominalis

rdf:langString Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominale, the rice root aphid or red rice root aphid, is a sap-sucking insect pest with a wide host range and a global distribution. As a member of the superfamily Aphidoidea, it is one of 16 species of the genus Rhopalosiphum. Adults and nymphs are soft-bodied and usually dark green with brown, red, or yellow tones. Like all aphids, reproduction is sexual and asexual, depending on the environmental conditions and host plant. Rice root aphids cause injury to external plant parts, namely the roots or stem, by feeding on plant sap and vector several important plant viruses. The hosts of this pest extend across multiple plant families with most belonging to Rosaceae, Poaceae, and Solanaceae. R. rufiabdominale is universally associated with Prunus species but also infests various field crops, greenhouse vegetables, cannabis, and other ornamental plants. While this aphid originates from east Asia, it spans nearly every continent. Dispersal is particularly widespread across the United States, India, and Australia, with crop damage documented in multiple instances, although economic losses are primarily associated with Japanese rice crops. Nonetheless, it remains a pest of serious concern due to its high mobility, discrete habitat, and adaptive plasticity, giving it the rightful reputation as a successful invader.