D3083: Bugs in the spuds: The temporal distribution of disease-vectoring aphids in Montana seed potato

Aphids are a dual threat to crops across the world, as they can both physically damage plants through feeding and cause further damage as vectors of plant viruses. The efficiency of aphids in vectoring these plant viruses depends on a multitude of biotic and abiotic factors. For growers, understanding the overall aphid presence, the different aphid species, and other associated patterns affecting viral spread in their fields during the growing season is crucial for making decisions regarding management strategies. Seed potato, which undergoes a vigorous certification process at the state level to screen for multiple pathogens, is threatened by aphids and the viruses they vector. While the aphids and their behaviors that impact viral spread in seed potato crops are relatively well-known in other potato-growing states, these patterns have not been assessed in potato-growing regions in Montana. Throughout the 2025 seed potato growing season, we sampled aphids at four field sites in Western Montana using paired Malaise traps, with one positioned upwind and one downwind of a given field site. Aphids were sampled biweekly, identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible, and further categorized into potato-colonizing and non-potato-colonizing categories. Trends were observed in the overall number of aphids and the temporal distribution of various species of interest throughout the growing season. By completing this initial field survey, we can begin to interpret the patterns associated with aphid prevalence in Montana seed potato crops.