SASA monitors aphid activity to help assess the risk of potato virus spread and support decision-making in the Scottish seed potato industry.
Sign up for updates:
To receive regular aphid bulletin emails, contact the Zoology team at zoology@sasa.gov.scot.
Monitoring and guidance:
- Aphids are important vectors of potato viruses in the UK and present a significant risk to the Scottish seed potato industry.
- SASA operates a national suction trap network to monitor aphid abundance and movement, assess virus risk, and support evidence-based control decisions.
- Trap data contributes to the UK network operated by Rothamsted Research, which publishes weekly aphid bulletins via the Rothamsted Insect Survey.
- Growers are advised to consult The six steps to effective virus management in certified or home saved seed, published by the Scottish Aphid-Virus Working Group.
- Albert Bartlett is sponsoring the Scottish in-crop aphid monitoring network for 2026. Samples will be analysed weekly by FERA in York, with results published on SASA’s Aphid Monitoring Network page.
- During the growing season, SASA updates aphid monitoring pages regularly (usually on Friday afternoons) and shares key headlines by email and social media.
SASA