The alate morph of Stomaphis wojciechowskii - first description and implications for species ecology.

The first description of the hitherto unknown alate morph of the recently discovered giant aphid species Stomaphis wojciechowskii Depa is presented, based on examination of specimens collected in the United Kingdom and Poland in 2018. A key for the determination of known alate morphs of the genus Stomaphis is provided. Morphological comparisons are made between the alate morph of S. wojciechowskii and the closely-related, sympatric species Stomaphis quercus L., and we discuss how the observed differences may have evolved as an adaptation of each species to the very different ecological niche occupied by their respective ant hosts: S. wojciechowskii to Lasius brunneus (Latreille), and S. quercus to Lasius fuliginosus (Latreille). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]