Aphid Identification and Control in Omaha Trees
Aphids build up fast on tender new growth, and the sticky honeydew they leave behind can turn your tree's leaves black with sooty mold.
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What aphids are and how they damage trees
Aphids are sucking insects that build up to huge numbers on tender new shoots and leaves. As they feed, they excrete honeydew, a sticky substance that coats leaves and anything beneath the tree. A black stain known as sooty mold is a common problem beneath infested trees, growing on the honeydew residue.
Because aphids reproduce so quickly, a small infestation can turn into a large one within a few weeks, especially on trees already stressed by heat or drought.
Boxelder aphids
Boxelder aphids are light to dark olive-green and 2 to 2.5 mm long. Wings, if present, are held above the body. They overwinter on the tree and go through multiple generations per season, feeding on leaves and secreting the honeydew that leads to sooty mold buildup.
Black willow aphids
Black willow aphids are relatively large aphids, 3 to 4 mm in length, with black bodies and orange tube-like projections (cornicles) extending from the rear of the abdomen. Large populations of black willow aphids cause premature leaf drop and reduce tree growth.
Woolly elm and woolly apple aphids
Woolly elm aphids are green to dusky gray, while woolly apple aphids are yellowish to rusty brown. Mature aphids of both types are 1.5 to 2.0 mm in length. Reproduction is prolific: up to 200 winged and wingless aphids may be produced by a single female.
Aphids and other sap-sucking pests
Aphids are part of a broader group of sap-sucking insects that also includes the lace bug, the pine needle scale, and the spider mite. All of these soft-bodied pests feed by sucking sap from plants, and aphids in particular can be very destructive and can transmit plant diseases between trees.
