spotted alfalfa aphid

noun

a pale yellowish aphid, Therioaphis maculata, of the southern U.S., especially west of the Mississippi River, that is marked with black spots and has fine spines on its back: a pest mainly of alfalfa and some other legumes, as clover.

Nearby words

spotlight, spotlit, spotsylvania, spotted, spotted adder, spotted alfalfa aphid, spotted cavy, spotted cowbane, spotted crake, spotted crane's-bill, spotted deer

Origin of spotted alfalfa aphid

First recorded in 1955–60