ABSTRACT
The peach-potato aphid, Myzus persicae, is a widely distributed insect pest that feeds on a variety of crops, including peach, potato, tomato, pepper, and cabbage. This aphid species has a very significant economic damage due to its ability to cause significant damage, both directly and indirectly. M. persicae is a small, soft-bodied insect, which has a pear-shaped body, with two long antennae and two tube-like structures called cornicles located at the back of the abdomen. M. persicae causes severe distress to a wide range of crop plants by sucking plant sap and transmitting hundreds of plant viral diseases. Ecological factors such as high reproduction rates, the short generation times, the wide range of hosts and its widespread global distribution make it a serious agricultural pest. Furthermore, the development of resistance to insecticides and also the banning of neonicotinoid insecticides in Europe means that new interventions are urgently needed for its management. Understanding the biology, ecology, behavior, and management of M. persicae is crucial for the effective control of this pest. This chapter will explore the ecological aspects of M. persicae that have made it a serious threat to agricultural crops. Here, we have discussed the life cycle, distribution, host range, and damage caused by M. persicae.
