Actual and Inferred Checklist of the Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with Attendant Ant and Host Plant Associations

A comprehensive survey of aphid species (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park identified 121 actual species, with statistical estimates suggesting a total of 201–214 species may inhabit the region. The study, conducted between 2003 and 2006 as part of the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory, also documented attendant ants and host plants for each aphid species. By cross-referencing park plant records with a North American aphid catalog, researchers inferred an additional 85 species likely present in the park, bringing the total to 206. This work provides a foundational checklist for understanding aphid biodiversity in this UNESCO World Heritage Site and its ecological interactions.

Favret, C., Duggan, J. J., Sanders, N. J., & Phillippe, L. R. (2010). Actual and Inferred Checklist of the Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, with Attendant Ant and Host Plant Associations. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 112(3), 381–403. https://doi.org/10.4289/0013-8797.112.3.381