Brachycaudus helichrysi (Kaltenbach, 1843)

Mehrparvar, Mohsen & Mirtadzadini, Mansour, 2024, Aphids associated with Carthamus in Iran with the description of the hitherto unknown male of Uroleucon carthami (Hille Ris Lambers, 1948) (Hemi.: Aphididae), Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics 10 (3), pp. 467-483 : 471

Brachycaudus helichrysi (Kaltenbach, 1843)

Apterae display a remarkably variable range of pale colours, including pale green, pale yellow, whitish, or pinkish, with a body length ranging from 0.9 to 2.0 mm. In the Iranian population, there are some biometric differences compared to what is mentioned in the literature. In the Iranian population, the ratio of SIPH/Cauda and ANTIII/HTII is 1.7–2.14 and 2.4–2.77, respectively, whereas these ratios are 0.8–1.5 and 0.9–2.2 in Blackman & Eastop (2024). Heie (1992) mentioned the URS/HTII ratio as 1.2–1.3 for B. helichrysi in the key for species of Brachycaudus . However, in the examined specimens in this study, this ratio was found to be 1.38–1.41. They are commonly found on stems and in flowerheads of numerous plant species, particularly those belonging to Asteraceae and Boraginaceae , but also on many others. This species has a global distribution and is recognized as a significant agricultural pest ( Blackman & Eastop, 2024). While widely distributed across all provinces in Iran, the presence of this species on Carthamus so far has been exclusively documented in Fars province by Goodarzifar et al. (2010), therefore this is the first report of this aphid species on Carthamus in Kerman province. In addition, there has not been any record of this aphid species on C. tinctorius in Iran so far; therefore, this association is new for Iran.

Material examined. ARG00583: Iran, Kerman province, Mahan , alt. 1929 m., on Carthamus tinctorius , 2- IX-2015, leg. Zahra Gorji.