Corresponding author: Malik Laamari (
Academic editor: E. Tasheva
A survey of aphids was carried out during the period 2008-2011 in different regions of Algeria by collecting and identifying aphids and their host plants. Aphids were collected from 46 host plants. Forty-six species were reported including thirty-six species which were recorded for the first time in this country and thirty species which were recorded for the first time in the Maghreb (North Africa). This study extends the number of known Algerian aphid to 156 species.
The aphid fauna of North Africa has been poorly studied. One hundred and fifty eight species have been recorded from Morocco (
The regions choosen for sample collection belonged to different bioclimatic stages. The regions of Annaba, Tarf and Algiers are located on the Mediterranean coast and are characterized by a humid and sub humid climate. Other regions (Guelma, Constantine, Setif and Oum El Bouaghi) are located on the high plateaus and high plains, where cereal crops are cultivated (semi arid climate). Khenchela, Batna and Biskra are located on the slopes north and south of the Saharan Atlas. Their natural vegetation is dominated by steppe plants. Ouargla and Ghardaia are located almost in the center of the Algerian Sahara (arid climate). Their natural vegetation is composed of desertic plants (
Map of the regions where samples were collected.
This study, conducted between 2008 and 2011, considers only the new aphid species of Algeria and the species already mentioned but without specified host plants. Specimens were collected from wild and cultivated plants, tree and shrubs bearing aphid colonies. The aphids were preserved in 75% ethyl alcohol until their preparation for slide-mounting. They were identified using the keys of
During this study, 320 samples were collected from the investigated regions. A total of 46 aphid species were reported including 36 species which were recorded for the first time in the country and 30 species which were recorded for the first time in the Maghreb (North Africa). The presence of 10 species already reported from Algeria was confirmed. Aphid species were listed in systematic category alphabetically, including the host plant and region for each aphid species (
List of aphid species present/found in Algeria.<br/>
|
|
|
---|---|---|
Biskra | ||
Khenchela | ||
Batna | ||
Batna | ||
Batna | ||
Guelma | ||
Taref, Batna | ||
Biskra | ||
Taref | ||
Khenchela | ||
Khenchela | ||
Batna | ||
Batna | ||
Guelma | ||
Batna | ||
Batna | ||
Batna | ||
Batna | ||
Biskra | ||
Guelma | ||
Batna | ||
Batna | ||
Biskra | ||
Biskra | ||
Batna | ||
Algiers | ||
Biskra | ||
Batna | ||
Biskra | ||
Batna | ||
Batna | ||
Khenchela | ||
Guelma | ||
Batna | ||
Batna | ||
Biskra | ||
Biskra | ||
Batna | ||
Batna | ||
Khenchela | ||
Batna | ||
Khenchela | ||
Batna | ||
Khenchela | ||
Batna | ||
Biskra |
* = species reported for the first time in Algeria
** = species reported for the first time in the Maghreb
With 46 species, this survey constitutes the most important contribution to the knowledge on aphid diversity in Algeria. Organization of the similar local studies would to play an important role in the applied entomological studies and may add more species to Algerian aphid fauna. There is a very large volume of literature about all the major pest aphid species and two factors that have the greatest influence on intraspecific variation in aphids: the life cycle and the host plant. Among the species inventoried,
A total of 34 aphid species were collected on the steppe plants specific of the Saharian Atlas. This mountain range forms the boundary between the northern (Mediterranean area) and southern (African area) of Algeria. It is home to many endemic plants, which may harbour very specific and uncommon aphid species. All aphid species reported as new to Algeria and North Africa were found in this transition area (Batna, Biskra and Khenchela regions).
In this study, 36 aphid species were reported for the first time in Algeria, increasing the number of species known to be present in this country to 156. Given the high level of climatic and plant diversity in Algeria, the expansion of prospect activities to a larger number of plant species and environments would undoubtedly provide a more accurate picture of the Algerian aphid fauna and would increase the number of species known to be present in this country. Furthermore, prospect studies in the Sahara and steppe zones, which are know to have a highly endemic flora, might lead to the description of species new to science.