Kauaʻi record · KCA-IA-00165
Rose-Grain Aphid
Metopolophium dirhodum
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About Rose-Grain Aphid
Rose-Grain Aphid (Metopolophium dirhodum) is a member of Aphididae in the order Hemiptera. Its recorded origin status on Kauaʻi is introduced.
Rose-grain aphid (Metopolophium dirhodum) is an introduced aphid documented from Kauaʻi. In its classic life cycle it uses roses as primary hosts and grasses and cereal crops such as wheat, barley, oats, and maize as secondary hosts. Direct feeding is often modest, but the species can transmit barley yellow dwarf virus and other cereal viruses, so host and disease records matter when it occurs in agricultural settings.
Kauaʻi occurrence evidence: Matsunaga, Howarth & Kumashiro (2019) Table 1 includes Kauaʻi island code 'Ka'; first-detection year shown as 2003; reported island distribution: Ka, Ma.
The cited occurrence evidence does not by itself establish current abundance or population trend on Kauaʻi.
Life cycle
In holocyclic populations, eggs overwinter on Rosa, spring generations develop on rose, winged aphids migrate to grasses/cereals, and sexual forms return to rose. Anholocyclic populations also occur; Kauaʻi cycle is unresolved.
Habitat
Roses, grasses and cereal crops in gardens, pastures and agricultural fields.
Food and ecological role
Phloem sap from Rosa and many Poaceae, including wheat, barley, oats, maize and wild grasses.
Reproduction
Alternates sexual and clonal phases in holocyclic populations; parthenogenetic-only populations can occur in suitable climates.
Movement
Winged adults migrate between rose and grass hosts and disperse among cereal stands.
Ecosystem role
Introduced cereal/grass sap feeder and virus vector.
Threats and impacts
Potential crop impact through direct feeding and virus transmission; Kauaʻi agricultural significance has not been quantified here.
Monitoring
Record rose versus grass host, winged forms, cereal symptoms and virus context; distinguish from other cereal aphids.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Metopolophium dirhodum
- Common names
- Rose-Grain Aphid
- Family
- Aphididae
- Order
- Hemiptera
- Record type
- species
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Present
- Origin
- Introduced
- Conservation status
- Not assessed
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal description
- Rose-Grain Aphid (Metopolophium dirhodum) is a member of Aphididae in the order Hemiptera. Its recorded origin status on Kauaʻi is introduced.