S&S

TREE AND HORTICULTURAL SPECIALIST

405 Hardman Avenue • South St. Paul, MN 55075 • 651 451 8907

APHIDS ON TREES AND SHRUBS

Aphids (pronounced "afids") are common Together, these symptoms cause the witches'
insects that are found on many varieties of broom effect. The affected shoots remain
trees and shrubs in Minnesota. They are small twisted and unsightly throughout the sum-
(1/10 inch long), pear-shaped, soft-bodied mer, turn brown in the fall, and usually die
insects that occur in many colors, black, green, over the winter
red, orange, brown, or gray. Aphids tend to To control the aphid, the witches' brooms
cluster on the underside of leaves or develop- can be pruned out during the growing season
ing stems. and in the fall; however, reinfestation of the
Aphids have a complex life cycle that shrub is very likely the following season.
involves several different plants. They usually
overwinter as eggs hidden in crack and
crevices on the bark or near the bud of trees
and shrubs. Aphids generally remain localized S & S R E C O M M E N D AT I O N
on specific plants and spread to other plants
often times by high winds. Periodically, Monitor carefully; most infestations are
winged forms can develop which can fly to not serious or can easily be thwarted
other plants. There are multiple generations with a single insect control application.
each year. Trunk inject in late spring/early summer
Most trees and shrubs are susceptible to using the Wedgle injector system to
aphid infestations with ash, maples, and hon- control (ideal for trees)
eysuckle most common. Soil inject in April using Merit insecti-
Honeysuckle Witches' Broom Aphid cide to prevent infestation (ideal for
A new pest of Honeysuckle was introduced honeysuckle aphids).
into Minnesota in 1981, the Honeysuckle Fertilize annually to maintain health
Witches' Broom Aphid. This insect affects and vigor
many of our Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp. and
cultivars) varieties, in particular Tatarian and
Zabel's.
The light green-colored aphids can be seen
in late spring on the new growth where they
suck on the plant sap and inject a toxin. The
leaves curl upward along the mid vein, and
aphids can be found inside the curled leaves.
In heavy infestations, the aphids will also be
seen on the petioles and stems. Due to the
aphid feeding, the shoots become shortened
and twisted and the leaf size is reduced.

NOBODY KNOWS TREES BETTER