California maple aphid vs Common maple aphid

Periphyllus californiensis compared with Periphyllus testudinaceus

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	California maple aphid	Common maple aphid
Kingdom same	Animalia (animal)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (arthropodes)	Arthropoda (arthropodes)
Class same	Insecta (insecte)	Insecta (insecte)
Order same	Hemiptera (Hemiptera)	Hemiptera (Hemiptera)
Family same	Aphididae	Aphididae
Genus same	Periphyllus	Periphyllus
Species	Periphyllus californiensis	Periphyllus testudinaceus

Evolutionary Relationship

California maple aphid and Common maple aphid share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Periphyllus.

Conservation Status

California maple aphid

NE — Not Evaluated

Common maple aphid

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	California maple aphid	Common maple aphid
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

California maple aphid

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (11 countries) and North America (United States).

Common maple aphid

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

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

California maple aphid

The California maple aphid (Periphyllus californiensis) is a species in the genus Periphyllus. Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇺🇸 United States