Scientific Name

Acyrthosiphon pisum

 

Hosts

Alfalfa and other legumes. Vetch and crimson clover are important overwintering hosts. 

 

Symptoms

The long-legged pea aphid adult is light to deep green with reddish eyes. It has a body length of 2.0 to 4.0 mm. The cornicles of this aphid are characteristically long and slender. Pea aphids extract sap from the terminal leaves and stem of the host plant. Their feeding can result in deformation, wilting, or death of the host depending upon the infestation level. Plants that survive heavy infestations are short and bunchy with more lightly colored tops than those of healthy plants. Wilted plants appear as brownish spots in the field. Moreover, plants are often coated with shiny honeydew secreted by the aphids, and cast skins may give the leaves and ground a whitish appearance. 

 

Control

Please contact your local county extension office for current information.