The Gall, Soldiers and Taxonomic Position of the Aphid Tuberaphis taiwana (Homoptera)

Galls of "Astegopteryx" taiwana TAKAHASHI on Styrax formosana were collected to examine the occurrence of soldiers in this aphid. Morphological and behavioral observations on aphids obtained from these galls showed that "A." taiwana produces many 2nd-instar soldiers in the gall. The coral-shaped gall of "A." taiwana and its 1st-instar exules deposited by emigrants are described. On the basis of the morphology of the 1st-instar exules, it is concluded that this species belongs to the genus Tuberaphis.