Sitobion avenae

{{Short description|Species of true bug}} {{Speciesbox | name = English Grain Aphid | image = Sitobio avenae.JPG | image_caption = | taxon = Sitobion avenae | authority = Fabricius | synonyms = }}

'''''Sitobion avenae''''', the '''English grain aphid''', is an aphid in the superfamily Aphidoidea in the order Hemiptera. It is a true bug and sucks sap from plants. It lives on grasses, sedge and rushes and can be a significant pest of cereals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://influentialpoints.com/Gallery/Sitobion_avenae_English_Grain_aphid.htm|title = Sitobion avenae (English Grain Aphid) identification, images, ecology}}</ref>

This species act as a host of the entomophthoralean fungi.<ref>{{Cite journal|doi = 10.1155/2013/838145|doi-access = free|title = The Occurrence of Two Species of Entomophthorales (Entomophthoromycota), Pathogens of ''Sitobion'' avenaeand ''Myzus'' persicae(Hemiptera: Aphididae), in Tunisia|year = 2013|last1 = Ben Fekih|first1 = Ibtissem|last2 = Boukhris-Bouhachem|first2 = Sonia|last3 = Eilenberg|first3 = Jørgen|last4 = Allagui|first4 = Mohamed Bechir|last5 = Jensen|first5 = Annette Bruun|journal = BioMed Research International|volume = 2013|pages = 1–7|pmid = 23862158|pmc = 3697232}}</ref>

==Parthenogenesis==

Some genotypes of ''S avenae'' are obligate parthenogens and some are cyclical parthenogens.<ref name = Dedryver2013>{{cite journal |vauthors=Dedryver CA, Le Gallic JF, Mahéo F, Simon JC, Dedryver F |title=The genetics of obligate parthenogenesis in an aphid species and its consequences for the maintenance of alternative reproductive modes |journal=Heredity (Edinb) |volume=110 |issue=1 |pages=39–45 |date=January 2013 |pmid=22990313 |pmc=3522239 |doi=10.1038/hdy.2012.57 |bibcode=2013Hered.110...39D }}</ref> Cyclically parthenogenetic lines can reproduce parthenogenetically in the spring and summer. Production of sexual females and males is induced during autumn by decreasing day length and decreasing temperature. Mating followed by egg laying occurs on grasses (Poaceae) during late November. Eggs can overwinter with delayed development (diapause), and then, after being exposed to cold for two or three months, can hatch spontaneously and initiate the next cycle of clonal reproduction.<ref name = Dedryver2013/>

==Genomics== A chromosome-level genome assembly of the English grain aphid (''Sitobion avenae'') was published in 2026. The genome size is approximately 525 Mb, with the assembly anchored to 6 chromosomes. The assembly has a BUSCO completeness of 98.6%, and 15,326 protein-coding genes were predicted.<ref name="Sitobion2026SciData">{{cite journal |last1=Zhang |first1=Yong |last2=Liu |first2=Qiang |last3=Li |first3=Feng |last4=Zhao |first4=Yue |last5=Chen |first5=Jian |title=Chromosome-level genome assembly of the English grain aphid (''Sitobion avenae'') |journal=Scientific Data |year=2026 |pmid=41981000 |doi=10.1038/s41597-026-07158-7 |doi-access=free }}</ref> == References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [http://aphid.aphidnet.org/Sitobion_avenae.php Sitobion avenae – AphidNet] * [http://www7.inra.fr/hyppz/RAVAGEUR/6sitave.htm INRA pest profile] * [http://www.agroatlas.ru/en/content/pests/Sitobion_avenae/ AgroAtlas entry] * [http://entoweb.okstate.edu/ddd/insects/englishgrainaphid.htm Oklahoma State University entomology page]

Category:Agricultural pest insects Category:Macrosiphini Category:Insect pests of millets Category:Fauna of the United Kingdom