Classification
Pemphiginae: Eriosomatinae
Diagnosis
Rather small, greenish or brownish white, plump, oval-bodied apterae clustered on roots of Gramineae; body is not so globose as in most other Tetraneura species. Alatae have a shiny black head and thoracic lobes and a brown abdomen. Apterae 1.5-2.5 mm, alatae 1.5-2.3mm. Antennae six-segmented, 0.17 times as long as body. Siphunculi with dark sclerotic rim. Fore wing with media obsolete at the base and cubitus and anal veins fused at base.
Heavily colonised by ants near root region, which indicates the presence of aphids.
Host plant(s)
Poaceae: Cymbopogon martini Wats., Cenchrus ciliaris Linn., Cenchrus setigerus Vahl., Chionachne semiteres C. Fisch., Dactyloctenium aegypticum Beauv., Dicanthium annulatum Stapf., Digitaria sp., Panicum maximum Jacq., Pennisetum cenchroides Rich., Pennisetum sp., Saccharum officinarum Linn., Sorghum halepense Pers., S. vulgare Pers.
Measurements
Aptera: Length of body 1.90, width 1.59; antennae 0.33, segments III: IV: V: 0.21: 0.09: 0.14: 0.05; u.r.s. 0.12; h.t.2 0.07.
Alata: Length of body 1.85, width 0.98; antennae 0.67, segments III: IV: V: VI: 0.23: 0.06: 0.19: 0.06; u.r.s. 0.11; h.t.2 0.13.
Seasonal occurrence
June-August.
Natural enemies
Diptera: Syrphidae: Paragus serratus (F.).