Hormaphis betulae genome project
Hormaphis betulae (Hemiptera: Hormaphidinae) is an aphid species associated with the witch hazel Hamamelis japonica. In the spring, the fundatrix of H. betulae induces the formation of pouch galls on the leaves, within which it produces numerous offspring. Notably, the nymphs of this species exhibit gall-cleaning behavior. As the season progresses, the mature alates migrate to Betula platyphylla var. japonica. H. betulae serves as an excellent model organism for studying various biological interactions, including insect-plant relationships [gall formation and host plant adaptation], ethology [gall-cleaning behavior], and symbiosis with bacterial endosymbionts [Buchnera aphidicola]. Genomic data from H. betulae provides a crucial foundation for understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions, offering valuable insights into their evolutionary processes.