Wooly aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum, Aphididae, Homoptera)

Damaging stag: Nymph and adult

Damaging symptoms:

• Swellings on bark or roots.
• On roots, nodular masses of gall tissue may
• Foliage-feeding species can cause infested leaves to curl, distort, discolor, or form into
• Secrete honeydew, which results in the growth of blackish sooty.

Identification

• Woolly aphid adults are pear-shaped, usually 13 inches or less in length, and cover themselves with white waxy material.
• Specialized dermal glands produce the characteristics of fluffy or powdery wax, which gives lanigerum its characteristic woolly appearance.
• Bloodstain when
• Flocculant wax
• Reproduction takes place
• Adult: reddish brown
• Nymph: purplish

Management

• Destroy infested branches, twigs, and trunks along with aphid
• Release and exotic nymphal parasitoid Aphelinus mali to suppress aphid It parasitizes all stages but prefers third-instar nymphs.
• Encourage the building of the ladybird beetle population in the woody aphid-infested apple..
• Spray mineral oil @ 10-15 ml per liter water as a foliar spray in apple Repeat spray after 7 days for 3 times.
• Dip the roots of the sapling in a 1% solution of Fenitrothion or Dichlorovs just before planting
• Spray Biomite or Ramban @ 66 ml per liter water as a foliar spray in apple trees. Repeat spray after 7 days for 3 times