chrysanthemum aphid vs Globe Thistle

Macrosiphoniella sanborni compared with Echinops exaltatus

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	chrysanthemum aphid	Globe Thistle
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Hemiptera (Hemiptera)	Afrosoricida (Afrosoricida)
Family	Aphididae	Tenrecidae
Genus	Macrosiphoniella	Echinops
Species	Macrosiphoniella sanborni	Echinops exaltatus

Evolutionary Relationship

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

View Kingdom: Animalia

Conservation Status

chrysanthemum aphid

NE — Not Evaluated

Globe Thistle

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	chrysanthemum aphid	Globe Thistle
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

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).

Globe Thistle

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found across Europe (13 countries) and North America (Canada, United States).

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.