Other species of woolly aphids include the woolly elm aphid (elm, service berry as alternate host), woolly elm bark aphid (American and slippery elm), beech blight aphid (beech), and woolly alder aphid (alder and silver maple). Reply Delete When plants in the greenhouse show woolly aphids I touch them with a brush with undiluted spirit. Woolly beech aphid (Phyllaphis fagi). This aphid is capable of producing incredible amounts of fluffy white wax from specialized wax glands lining its abdomen. Often large numbers of the molting or cast skins will be attached to leaf hairs, which gives the leaf a … The woolly beech aphid, Phyllaphis fagi, and rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae, are serious pests P. fagi is a specialist on the European beech tree, Fagus sylvatica [1] and is responsible for reducing the aesthetics of F. sylvatica in nurseries, causing economic losses to the nursery industry. These sap-sucking insects cover themselves with waxy filaments to deter predators. Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Horticulture and Home Pest News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The aphids are only found on the twigs and branches of American beech (Fagus grandifolia). These aphids tend to congregate in groups, primarily on the undersides of leaves. As always, we can look at the solution within nature; there are many predators of woolly aphids and their presence can reduce the numbers in the colonies on your plants. This is conventionally achieved by spraying with insecticide. Infestations are often kept in check by predators. Left: Woolly apple aphid colony (Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org); Right: Long-term damage to apple tree (H. J. Larsen, Bugwood.org) Woolly beech aphids and damage (Louis-Michel Nageleisen, Department of Forest Health, Bugwood.org ) Covering the aphid’s back, was white thread like pieces of waxy filaments. Because of their white woolly appearance they are sometimes confused with mealybugs. Back to Home woolly aphid. Perhaps the blight aphid's gyrations are a war dance! They also suck sap from your plants, which can weaken and damage your garden, especially if you have a major infestation. The woolly beech aphid is found feeding on the undersides of young leaves of beech (Fagus spp.). Decreasing day length signals the alder crowd to produce winged … Description. There are other Woolly Aphids such as the Beech Woolly Aphid which is specific to Beech trees and infest the leaves. One common member of this group is the woolly beech aphid which is primarily found on European varieties of beech (Fagus). Woolly elm aphid feeds on elm leaves in spring and then moves to serviceberry, where it feeds on the roots for the summer. Woolly alder aphid Woolly aphids on hawthorn You can read more about this fascinating stabbing behavior of beech blight aphids by clicking on the hotlinks beneath the publication titles below: Dancing Woolly Aphids Will Probably Stab You It is a woolly aphid species known as the Beech Blight Aphid (Grylloprociphilus imbricator (Fitch)).Despite its natural range being from Maine to Florida, it is seldom seen here. The answer lies within the coat of white wax on the branches. The insects are Woolly Beech Aphids, Phyllaphis fagi. No one knew what they were, so I have researched them. However, the carnivorous caterpillars do not appear to hunt beech blight aphids. Check susceptible plants frequently from spring onwards so action can be taken before a damaging population has developed. The young woolly aphids are green or blue in color. Aphids - Shrubs- - Woolly aphid on Pyracantha- - (Eriosoma lanigerum) PES111330 Photos Horticu. These are active in the spring only and produce large amounts of honeydew that may create aesthetic problems. I thought they were duck down feathers floating around until one lighted on my arm. The woolly beech aphid gets its name because its body is covered with waxy wool-like filaments. This article is specific to woolly aphids which attack apple trees however the very same pests also attack pyracantha, beech and cotoneaster. The gray/black stuff on the ground is sooty mold growing on the tremendous amount of honeydew they produce. beech blight aphid and boogie-woogie aphid, makes American beech its home. These aphids curl the leaves of green ash. Identification and treatment is broadly the same. Eggs of the Norway maple aphid tucked around the base of buds. One of my Camellias in the garden is prone to woolly aphid. 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