The grapevine aphid Aphis illinoisensis : a good example of recent invasion and rapid colonization by aphids

Abstract

Aphis illinoisensis represents one of the most recent aphid invaders from the New World to the Mediterranean Region. This aphid, which is native to North America and is now widely distributed in Central and South America, was first found in Southern Turkey in 2002, and in 2005 it was also found in Crete (Greece). Thereafter it was recorded from Northern Cyprus, Israel, Tunisia, Algeria, Montenegro and Libya, and is now probably present throughout the Mediterranean. The present work provides data on the presence of this aphid in the Maltese islands, a group of low-lying islands situated in the central Mediterranean Basin.