And what is the difference between a Woolly Aphid and a Beech Blight Aphid? Authors: Donald Lewis . The woolly beech aphid gets its name because its body is covered with waxy wool-like filaments. When plants in the greenhouse show woolly aphids I touch them with a brush with undiluted spirit. Woolly alder aphid feeds on alder and then silver maple. This aphid is capable of producing incredible amounts of fluffy white wax from specialized wax glands lining its abdomen. I thought they were duck down feathers floating around until one lighted on my arm. Often large numbers of the molting or cast skins will be attached to leaf hairs, which gives the leaf a … A strange aphid called the woolly beech aphid, a.k.a. These aphids curl the leaves of green ash. 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. Covering the aphid’s back, was white thread like pieces of waxy filaments. They also suck sap from your plants, which can weaken and damage your garden, especially if you have a major infestation. Back to Home 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. Thank you. In winged stages the abdomen is wax-covered. Download this stock image: Woolly beech aphid (Phyllaphis fagi), damage of beech leaves, Germany - EBN2P6 from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. Woolly beech aphid definition is - a widely distributed plant louse (Phyllaphis fagi) that feeds on various beeches. Woolly beech aphid (Phyllaphis fagi). Infestations are often kept in check by predators. These sap-sucking insects cover themselves with waxy filaments to deter predators. After placing the beech twig under the microscope, it was pretty easy to see individual insects, aphids, waving their curled-up butt ends in the air. This causes the leaves to curl downwards on both sides of the mid-rib, and often to wither and die prematurely. Do not confuse them with the Woolly Beech Aphid (Phyllaphis fagi) which only occurs on European beech (F. sylvatica) and its cultivars. Woolly aphid Eriosoma lanigerum waxy extrusions and aphids on apple wood. One common member of this group is the woolly beech aphid which is primarily found on European varieties of beech (Fagus). Woolly aphid is a nuisance. Figure 8: Leafcurl ash aphids, a type of woolly aphid. These are active in the spring only and produce large amounts of honeydew that may create aesthetic problems. A female aphid reproduces parthenogenetically, popping out live young (clones) all over her host plant without benefit of male companionship and without eggs. 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. Woolly alder aphid Woolly aphids on hawthorn beech blight aphid and boogie-woogie aphid, makes American beech its home. Figure 10: Winged and wingless forms of the green peach aphid. Normally, this is a way if keeping the population of woolly aphids in check, rather than getting rid of every aphid… Because of their white woolly appearance they are sometimes confused with mealybugs. This article is specific to woolly aphids which attack apple trees however the very same pests also attack pyracantha, beech and cotoneaster. 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