Tuberolachnus salignus
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~30%
Tuberolachnus salignus, the giant willow aphid, is a species of aphid, in the genus Tuberolachnus. They are reputed to be the largest aphids, with a body length of up to 5.8mm. First described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1790, it feeds on many species of willow (Salix species), and has one known host-specific parasite, Pauesia salignae.
Tuberolachnus salignus does not require a male for reproduction. Only females have ever been recorded, which suggests that reproduction is parthenogenetic and all offspring produced are genetically identical clones. Adults exhibit a pear-shaped body with dark brown/grayish coloration. This aphid species has distinct black dots that form rows along its body. Along the dorsal side of their abdomen, about 2/3 of the way down, T. salignus displays a defining single large conical tubercle or bump that resembles a thorn which can grow to 0.2-0.3 mm. Closer to the posterior and along the sides of the body are two smaller black cone structures (siphunculi).
Tuberolachnus salignus reproduces solely through parthenogenesis so all aphid adults are female. Adults can be either winged or wingless. The two pairs of wings are clear with a dark brown... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snowdonia National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 2 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | London | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 2 | Auckland | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Amsterdam | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | |
| 4 | Birmingham | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 5 | Berlin | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 6 | Paris | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 7 | Bogota | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 8 | Melbourne | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 9 | Buenos Aires | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 10 | Moscow | 🇷🇺 Russia |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Giant Willow Aphid sighting in Auckland on a given day, based on 21 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 264th most-seen of the 689 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
January, March–May and October
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Giant Willow Aphid in Auckland on a given day, against under 5% in February, June–September and November–December, the lowest months.
Between 1 and 4 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Giant Willow Aphid sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 12 cities where we can rate Giant Willow Aphid sightings, Auckland ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in London (United Kingdom, about 10%).
Same family: Aphididae
The closest relatives of the Giant Willow Aphid that you can see in Auckland (family Aphididae, Aphids) are Oleander Aphid (about 10%) and Hairy-Tailed Fig Aphid (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Giant Willow Aphid is recorded against all the insects logged in Auckland (21 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
