Toxoptera citricida

1 Black Citrus Aphid at Acton, ACT

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Identification history

Toxoptera citricida	26 Mar 2025	MichaelMulvaney
Toxoptera citricida	25 Mar 2025	MichaelMulvaney
Aphididae (family)	24 Mar 2025	CarbonAI
Aphididae (family)	24 Mar 2025	TimL

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12 comments

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

24 Mar 2025

Thanks Tim - do you know what plant the aphids are on - I am a bit worried that it may be Black Citrus aphid, Toxoptera citricida, a pest of citrus for which there are no electronic records from the ACT. However the plant does not look like a Rutaceae which is its host family.

TimL wrote:

25 Mar 2025

@MichaelMulvaney I don't know the plant Michael, but the GPS coordinates are accurate if that helps with the identification. I will try and get back to the Gardens today and if I can get you the details then I'll message you directly. Tim

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

25 Mar 2025

Thanks Tim

TimL wrote:

25 Mar 2025

@MichaelMulvaney Hi Michael. I've just checked the plant at ANBG where the aphids were sighted, and they are still in place as well as on an adjacent plant. The main plant on the side of a path has the following ID: Medicosma cunninghamii. B 9702734.3 112. Hope this helps. Tim

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

25 Mar 2025

Bugger Medicosma is a member of the Rutaceae I will make a name suggestion and alert biosecurity @ACTBioSecurity @HelenCross
@KimPullen can you please give a second opinion re ID

HelenCross wrote:

25 Mar 2025

Thanks Michael, I've passed this on to the ANBG

KimberiRP wrote:

25 Mar 2025

It does look like T. citricida as illustrated in ALA, but I don't feel qualified to confirm it as that species.
ALA has an old (1960) record of Toxoptera citricida in Canberra, see:
https://biocache.ala.org.au/occurrences/b298222d-e3b5-4f45-ae92-fa1664d2fc1d

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

25 Mar 2025

Thanks Kim I did see that record but was confused as to whether it was a specimen provided by CSIRO Black Mountain or a specimen collected at Black Mountain - is there any way of knowing for sure?

KimberiRP wrote:

25 Mar 2025

The ALA occurrence record gives Black Mountain as the Locality (i.e. place where the specimen was collected, as opposed to the place where it was subsequently lodged), and 'yellow tray trap' under Occurrence remarks. These traps are simply a shallow tray (white or sometimes coloured) filled with water and a small amount of detergent to break the surface tension. Insects may fall into it, or be attracted to it, and be trapped. They can be productive for small, delicate aerial insects such as aphids and micro-wasps.

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

26 Mar 2025

Thanks Kim - Given long term presence in area may not be such a concern but will leave to @ACTBioSecurity to determine

HarleyB wrote:

26 Mar 2025

Samples were taken today and sent to NSWDPI for testing.

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

26 Mar 2025

Thanks Harley - can you please let us know the results - also did you see the one about the olive lacebug

Froggattia olivinia (Olive Lace Bug)

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Location information

Coordinates 149.109618 -35.274310
Altitude 619.9m
Maps ANBG
Places Acton, ACT

Sighting information

16 - 100 Abundance
23 Mar 2025 12:51 PM Recorded on
TimL Recorded by
Collections
TimL NatureMapr Canberra & Southern Tablelands Latest Psyllids, lerps, aphids & whiteflies (Hemiptera, several families) Insects

Additional information

Less than 5mm Animal size
Alive / healthy Animal health

Species information

Toxoptera citricida Scientific name
Black Citrus Aphid Common name
Not Sensitive
Exotic
Medium weed or pest
613.2m to 619.9m Recorded at altitude
Machine learning

Record quality

Images or audio
More than one media file
Verified by an expert moderator
Nearby sighting(s) of same species
GPS evidence of location
Description
Additional attributes