Common maple aphid vs Orange-winged Parrot / Orange-winged Amazon

Periphyllus testudinaceus compared with Amazona amazonica

Key Differences

• Common maple aphid is Not Evaluated while Orange-winged Parrot / Orange-winged Amazon is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common maple aphid	Orange-winged Parrot / Orange-winged Amazon
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Hemiptera (Hemiptera)	Psittaciformes (Parrots)
Family	Aphididae	Psittacidae (True Parrots)
Genus	Periphyllus	Amazona
Species	Periphyllus testudinaceus	Amazona amazonica

Evolutionary Relationship

Common maple aphid and Orange-winged Parrot / Orange-winged Amazon share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Common maple aphid

NE — Not Evaluated

Orange-winged Parrot / Orange-winged Amazon

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common maple aphid	Orange-winged Parrot / Orange-winged Amazon
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common maple aphid

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and United States.

Orange-winged Parrot / Orange-winged Amazon

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (6 countries), North America (Barbados, Saint Lucia, United States), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela).

Common maple aphid

<em>Periphyllus testudinaceus</em>, the common maple aphid, is a small sap-sucking insect in the family Aphididae, associated primarily with maple trees of the genus Acer. It is recorded from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the United States. This species has not been formally evaluated for IUCN conservation status. The common maple aphid typically forms colonies on the undersides of maple leaves and along young shoots, feeding on phloem sap and potentially causing leaf curling, discoloration, and reduced tree vigor in heavy infestations. Like many aphid species, it produces honeydew as a metabolic byproduct, which attracts ants that may protect the aphid colonies in exchange. The species exhibits complex life cycles that can involve both sexual and asexual reproduction across seasons. Biological traits including body size, average lifespan, and precise dietary specializations beyond maple sap feeding remain incompletely documented. The common maple aphid is part of the broader community of invertebrates dependent on maple trees across temperate Northern Hemisphere regions.

Orange-winged Parrot / Orange-winged Amazon

A medium-sized amazon parrot of South American tropical and secondary forests, orange-winged amazons have predominantly green plumage with distinctive orange wing patches visible in flight, blue and yellow on the head. Found from Colombia and Trinidad east to Venezuela, the Guianas, and south through Brazil and Bolivia. One of the most common and widespread amazons, living in large, noisy flocks and roosting communally. They are widely kept as pets throughout Latin America and internationally.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway 🇺🇸 United States