New record of the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on soybean in Zambia

The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii (Glover), is a highly polyphagous and is distributed worldwide. It is an important agricultural pest that causes direct damage to plants and transmits many plant viruses. Aphis gossypii taxonomy is challenging due to similar morphology to other Aphis species and polymorphic variation (body size and color). It has been recorded in most African countries on cotton (Gossypium spp.), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp.), cucurbits (Cucurbita spp.) and pepper (Capsicum spp.), but not on soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr). In March of 2019, apterous viviparae (immature and adults, dwarfs) were found on soybean in Mpongwe, Zambia. The range of pair-wise distances of its mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 (Cox1) sequences (MN083247 and MN083248) and A. gossypii’s GenBank retrieved sequences was 0.0-0.1%. Morphological observations such as the ratios of antenna processus terminalis and base (2.2–2.6, n = 5), and siphunculi and cauda (1.1–1.3, n = 5) confirmed the identity of this species.