Aphids are marked by their high polymorphism, but species reported from Baltic amber are known only from one morph. Aphids most frequently observed in Baltic amber belong to the genus Germaraphis HEIE but only apterous morphs and larval forms are aboundant. On the other hand, the genus Mindarus KOCH is known only from alate morphs. Of superfamily Phylloxeroidea (comprising Adelgidae, Elektraphididae and Phylloxeridae) only the extinct family Elektraphididae is known from Baltic amber. Although as many as 10 species have been described, only alate morphs have been reported. In collection of the Museum of the Earth in Warsaw apterous representatives of Adelgidae (Adelges balticus sp. n.) and Phylloxeridae (Acanthochermes longirostris sp. n.) have been found and described.
The researches under insect consortiums as bioindicators have been conducted since the mid 70s in Department of Zoology, Silesian University. The results of researches show that aphids feed on common trees can be used as indicators of habitat condition in many regions (natural ones or of industrial activity). In order to make future researches easier (with the use of the represented method) keys to species of aphids on birches all over Poland in field and laboratory are prepared.
The paper concerns Sternorrhynchas collected in the mountainous regions of Poland. There is a small group of species found only in that areas, which consists of nine species of the Psylloidea, six species of the Coccoidea and fourteen of the Aphidoidea.