Neomasonaphis rhododendris Chakrabarti, Mandal & Raha 1983 = Ericolophium holsti (Takahashi 1935)

In the key to Himalayan Rhododendron ­feeding aphids by Chakrabarti et al. (1983), Neomasonaphis rhododendris is distinguished from Ericolophium holsti, described from Rhododendron in Taiwan, by first tarsal segments with 5 hairs (allegedly 4 in holsti, although 5 in the original description), last rostral segment with 18–20 accessory hairs (allegedly 10–12 in holsti, although not mentioned in original description) and faintly papillate (as opposed to papillate) tergum. We have been unable to distinguish paratype apterae of rhododendris, and other apterae from India in the BNMH colln (leg. D Hille Ris Lambers) previously identified as holsti, from the original description of holsti . Two alatae of holsti from Taiwan (leg. R Takahashi) differ from a paratype alata of rhododendris only in presence of a few rhinaria on antennal segment IV and a somewhat longer, thinner cauda.