Balsam Twig Aphid
go.ncsu.edu/readext?646312
More insecticides are used to control the balsam twig aphid than any other pest in Fraser fir grown in western North Carolina. Scouting is key to twig aphid management. Managing ground covers are important in providing a habitat for predators.
Online Information
CTN 19: Balsam Twig Aphid on Fraser Fir – fact sheet with life cycle, scouting, threatment thresholds, and pesticide choices
Focus on Aphid Control – includes control of twig aphids and Cinara aphids
BTA – Facts at a Glance – quick facts about twig aphids (1-page pdf version with photos)
Pest Predators – many of which feed on twig aphids
Videos
Scouting for Twig Aphid Eggs – how to scout for eggs through the summer and winter to simplify scouting in the spring
Twig Aphid Scouting Tips – ways to make twig aphid spring scouting more successful
Scouting for Christmas Tree Predators – including twig aphid predators
Photo Gallery
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- A balsam twig aphid egg
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- Balsam twig aphid egg on shoot
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- A twig aphid hatching from an egg
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- Adult balsam twig aphid
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- Balsam twig aphid on needle.
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- Many twig aphids waiting for the bud to break to feed in succulent new growth
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- Twig aphids and newly broken bud
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- Winged twig aphids can be found in May
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- Predators like lady bugs eat the majority of twig aphids
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- Scout for twig aphids in cones by pushing up the bracts
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- Twig aphids will feed in developing cones before the shoots develop
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- balsam twig aphid needle curl
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- Some curled needles will straighten through the summer
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- Twig aphids feeding on shoots after they have matured some will no longer cause needle curl
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- Twig aphids can attack seedlings growing in greenhouses
Other On-Line Resources:
InfluentialPoints information of Mindarus abietinus
Pucerons des Pousses du Sapin – Information from Quebec on twig aphids. This publicaiton is in french but has excellent photos and graphics.