Key Features
- White Wooly Bands on Trunk
- Wooly Patches on Branches
- Wooly Tufts on Twigs
Symptoms
Trunks and or branches can be partly or completely covered in a white, wooly wax if tree is heavily infested. Twigs can also be covered. Lighter infested trees only have isolated spots on branches. These insects can slow the growth of newly planted white pines if the infestation is heavy enough to coat the trunk.
Biology
Adelgids winter as immature nymphs under strands of white wax. Adult females mature in late spring, and lay eggs on the trunk and twig in April. They can have several generations a year.
Management Recommendations
These native insects are normally controlled by a wide range of predators and parasites that feed on them. On small trees with a heavy infestation you can often get control by knocking the insects off the trunk and branches with a strong stream from a garden hose. If this does not work, you can then try an application of insecticidal soap or horticultural or neem oil. Other pesticides will kill the insect and the natural enemies.
Effective Pesticides
Active Ingredients include: Azadirachtin, Horticultural oil (Paraffinic or superior oil) , Insecticidal soap (Potassium salt of fatty acid), Neem oil
Resources
