Pacific Southwest

Title: Evaluation of systemic insecticides for control of Elatobium abietinum (Homoptera: Aphididae) on Picea sitchensis in Southeast Alaska

Author: Schultz , M.E.; Fettig, C.J.; Borys, R.R.; Burnside, R.E.

Date: 2009

Source: Journal of Entomological Science 44: 78–84

Description: Spruce aphid, Elatobium abietinum (Walker) (Homoptera: Aphididae), causes chlorosis, defoliation and mortality of spruce, Picea spp., but has also been recorded infesting pine, Pinus spp., and Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco (Furniss and Carol in 1977, U.S. Dept. of Agric. For. Servo Misc. Publ. 1339). This species, an exotic invasive in North America, was first reported in British Columbia in 1916 presumably originating from native populations in Europe (Carter and Halld6rsson 1998, Scot. For. Comm. Tech. Pap. 24) and has since spread throughout coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest where maritime climates moderate temperatures and increase E. abietinum survivability (Bejer-Petersen 1962, Oikos 13: 155-168). Little has been published on E. abietinum in North America. Sitka spruce, Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr., is a preferred host and grows in a narrow band along the Pacific coast from a latitude of about 61°N in south-central Alaska to 39°N in northern California. Extensive amounts of P. sitchensis mortality has been attributed to E. abietinum infestations in British Columbia (Koot 1991 , Can. For. Servo For. Pest Leafl. 16), but appears to be a rare occurrence elsewhere. Since 1998, large-scale outbreaks have occurred in Southeast Alaska resulting in defoliation of P. sitchensis over extensive areas (Wittwer 2003, U.S. Dept. of Agric. For. Serv. Tech. Rept. R10-TP-113) and some tree mortality.

Keywords: spruce aphid, Sitka spruce, tree injections, acephate, imidacloprid

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Citation

Schultz , M.E.; Fettig, C.J.; Borys, R.R.; Burnside, R.E.  2009.  Evaluation of systemic insecticides for control of Elatobium abietinum (Homoptera: Aphididae) on Picea sitchensis in Southeast Alaska.   Journal of Entomological Science 44: 78–84.