Aphis lugentis has invaded NZ

Look out for the senecio aphid Aphis lugentis. It's from North America & was detected in Australia in 2020 then in NZ in April 2023 (on #iNaturalist). It's big and black.

It eats on senecios which incl. exotic groundsels but also threatened endemic NZ species.

Yesterday I found senecio aphids on two plants in central Ōtautahi-Christchurch. So far I'm the only one to have recorded these from the South Island. There must be more out there.

#insects #aphids #biosecurity

https://inaturalist.nz/observations/205154304

The parasitoid (an organism that has young that develop on or within another organism (the host), eventually killing it) pictured here is Aphid Mummy Wasp.