Domyzus (nectarosiphon) species other thanm persicae pose a threat to the idaho potato crop

Green peach aphids (Myzus persicae (Sulzer) ) pose a threat to the Idaho potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) crop primarily because they transmit potato leafroll virus (PLRV). Only colonizing vectors are epidemiologically significant because PLRV is persistently transmitted. Additionally, Idaho winters are severe enough that most permanently anholocyclic aphid species do not establish. It is now accepted that the taxon that has been known asMyzus (Nectarosiphon)persicae (Sulzer) is in fact at least three species (M. persicae, Myzus nicotianae Blackman andMyzus antirrhinii (Macchiati) ). It was not known whether the newly designated species had the potential to damage the Idaho potato crop. The objectives of our research were to determine whetherMyzus (Nectarosiphon) spp. other thanM. persicae occurred naturally in Idaho, whether they could colonize potato and transmit PLRV, and whether they were potentially holocyclic.