Arctic Blue vs Common maple aphid

Agriades aquilo compared with Periphyllus testudinaceus

Key Differences

• Arctic Blue is Near Threatened while Common maple aphid is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Arctic Blue	Common maple aphid
Kingdom same	Animalia (動物)	Animalia (動物)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (節足動物)	Arthropoda (節足動物)
Class same	Insecta (昆虫)	Insecta (昆虫)
Order	Lepidoptera (チョウ目)	Hemiptera (カメムシ目)
Family	Lycaenidae	Aphididae
Genus	Agriades	Periphyllus
Species	Agriades aquilo	Periphyllus testudinaceus

Evolutionary Relationship

Arctic Blue and Common maple aphid share a common ancestor at the Class level: Insecta. (昆虫)

Conservation Status

Arctic Blue

NT — Near Threatened

Common maple aphid

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Arctic Blue	Common maple aphid
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Arctic Blue

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Finland, Norway, Russia, and Sweden. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Common maple aphid

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

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

Arctic Blue

The Arctic Blue (Agriades aquilo) is a species in the genus Agriades. It is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. 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 2 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden