Today's insect of the day was the gorgeous Crimson Tansy Aphid, Uroleucon tanaceti, in Wensum Park in Norwich. (Found recently by @norwichbirder.bsky.social.) www.influentialpoints.com/Gallery/Urol... - ThreadSky

jeremybartlett.bsky.social • 6 days ago

Today's insect of the day was the gorgeous Crimson Tansy Aphid, Uroleucon tanaceti, in Wensum Park in Norwich.

(Found recently by @norwichbirder.bsky.social.)

https://www.influentialpoints.com/Gallery/Uroleucon_tanaceti_Crimson_tansy_aphid.htm

1 / 4

Comments

topknotcrew.bsky.social•6 days ago

🤩

jiscavandijk.bsky.social•6 days ago

Is that what crimson the color is made from?

jeremybartlett.bsky.social•6 days ago

The Influential Points website (link above) says: "A closely related aphid, Uroleucon nigrotubeculatum, gets it brick-red colouration from a quinone pigment named uroleuconaphin (Horikawa et al., 2006). We suspect that Uroleucon tanaceti uses the same, or a very similar, pigment."

jesika5555.bsky.social•6 days ago

Lovely shots of pretty insects and thanks for the name. My buddleia has become a red aphid nursery, I wonder if it's the same as yours. Are they as far north as York, do you know?

jeremybartlett.bsky.social•6 days ago

I think this species is only on Tansy but the Peach-potato Aphid, Myzus persicae, is red and occurs on Buddleja. (There are 10 other species on Buddleja listed on the Influential Points website but none are red.)

See https://influentialpoints.com/Gallery/Myzus_persicae_Peach-potato_aphid.htm

jesika5555.bsky.social•5 days ago

Thank you, I'll post a photo of them tomorrow and next time we go walkies in Tansyland I'll have a close look - might even find a Tansy beetle. After all, I DO live in York, Tansy beetle paradise.

jeremybartlett.bsky.social•5 days ago

I'd love to see a Tansy Beetle. I did look beside the River Ouse near York many years ago, without success (and skill). They've been rediscovered in the Fens, a bit nearer where I live. Good luck with your search!

jesika5555.bsky.social•5 days ago

That's excellent news. I wonder if they have been relocated by TBAG (Tansy Beetle Action Group) who have an extensive breeding, planting and relocating programme along the Ouse. There's a colony in Museum Gardens too.

jeremybartlett.bsky.social•5 days ago

The Fens population was a rediscovery (known from there in Vicorian times then found again in 2014). See https://cdn.buglife.org.uk/downloads/Species-managment-sheet-Tansy-beetle-Chrysolina-graminis-final_0.pdf.

Maybe I need to visit York again one spring. Used to go there a lot (my furthest south when I lived in Scotland and later my furthest north, for work).

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply