Tetraneura facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tetraneura
Tetraneura ulmi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hemiptera
Suborder:	Sternorrhyncha
Family:	Aphididae
Subfamily:	Eriosomatinae
Tribe:	Eriosomatini
Genus:	Tetraneura Hartig, 1841

Tetraneura is a group of tiny insects called aphids. These aphids are special because they can be "woolly" and they create strange bumps on plants called "galls." There are more than 30 different kinds, or species, of Tetraneura aphids known to scientists.

Tetraneura ulmi on a plant gall

What are Aphids?

Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects. They use their special mouthparts to suck sap from plants. Sap is like the plant's blood, full of nutrients. Aphids can sometimes cause problems for plants, especially if there are many of them. They belong to a big family of insects called Aphididae.

How Tetraneura Make Galls

One of the coolest things about Tetraneura aphids is how they make galls. A gall is a strange growth on a plant, almost like a small, unusual bump or lump. It's caused by the plant reacting to the aphid's feeding.

When a Tetraneura aphid feeds on a plant, it injects chemicals. These chemicals make the plant grow in a weird way, forming a protective home for the aphid. This gall keeps the aphid safe from predators and bad weather. It also provides a steady supply of food. For example, Tetraneura ulmi makes galls on elm trees that look like little sacks.

Life Cycle of Tetraneura Aphids

The life cycle of Tetraneura aphids is quite interesting. Many of them have a complex life cycle that involves moving between different types of plants.

Often, they start their lives on a main host plant, like an elm tree. Here, they create galls and reproduce. Later in the year, some of the aphids develop wings. These winged aphids then fly to a different type of plant, often the roots of grasses or other plants. They spend the winter there, reproducing underground. In the spring, new winged aphids fly back to the original host plant to start the cycle all over again. This movement between different plants helps them survive and find food all year round.

Different Kinds of Tetraneura

Scientists have found many different kinds of Tetraneura aphids. Each species might have slightly different habits or prefer certain plants. Here are some of the species that belong to this group: