W207-Vegetable Pests - Melon Aphid

The melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, is found throughout most of the temperate, subtropic and tropic regions of the world. Although it is a cosmopolitan species, its origin is unknown. The melon aphid has a wide host range and can feed on watermelon, cucumber, cantaloupe, squash, pumpkin, asparagus, spinach, bean, beet, cowpea, tomato, pepper, eggplant, okra, citrus, cotton, hibiscus and many weeds (such as jimsonweed and pigweed). In the South, cotton is an important host, which explains the use of the second common name, “cotton aphid.”