Alpine marmot vs chrysanthemum aphid

Marmota marmota compared with Macrosiphoniella sanborni

Key Differences

• Alpine marmot is Least Concern while chrysanthemum aphid is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Alpine marmot	chrysanthemum aphid
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Hemiptera (Hemiptera)
Family	Sciuridae (Squirrels)	Aphididae
Genus	Marmota	Macrosiphoniella
Species	Marmota marmota	Macrosiphoniella sanborni

Evolutionary Relationship

Alpine marmot and chrysanthemum aphid share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Alpine marmot

LC — Least Concern

chrysanthemum aphid

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Alpine marmot	chrysanthemum aphid
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Alpine marmot

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Andorra, Czech Republic, Italy, and Spain.

chrysanthemum aphid

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Cyprus, Israel, Taiwan), Europe (31 countries), and North America (United States).

Alpine marmot

The Alpine marmot (Marmota marmota) is a species in the genus Marmota. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Distributed across Andorra, Czech Republic, Italy, and Spain.

chrysanthemum aphid

The chrysanthemum aphid (Macrosiphoniella sanborni) is a soft-bodied insect in the family Aphididae, a specialist pest of cultivated and wild Chrysanthemum species and related members of the family Asteraceae. It is a dark brown to reddish-black aphid, distinguishing it from many green or pale aphids, and infests the shoots, leaves, and flower buds of its host plants. Like other aphids, Macrosiphoniella sanborni feeds by inserting its stylet mouthparts into plant tissue to extract phloem sap, depriving the host of carbohydrates and amino acids. Heavy infestations cause stunting, leaf curl, distortion, and reduction in flower quality and yield, making it a significant pest in the commercial chrysanthemum industry worldwide. The species can reproduce parthenogenetically — females producing live young without fertilization — and populations can build rapidly under warm greenhouse conditions. Chrysanthemum aphids excrete honeydew, which supports the growth of black sooty mold on plant surfaces, further reducing photosynthesis and ornamental value. They may also transmit plant viruses during feeding. Natural predators including ladybirds, lacewings, and parasitoid wasps provide biological control, though chemical aphicides are frequently used in commercial cultivation.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇨🇿 Czech Republic 🇮🇹 Italy 🇪🇸 Spain