Christmas tree (True fir)-Balsam twig aphid

Mindarus abietinus

Pest description and crop damage Small, yellow-green aphids with woolly exudates attack new terminals.

See table:

Management-chemical control

  • bifenthrin (OnyxPro, Sniper and others)-Restricted use pesticide. (Group 3)
  • carbaryl (Sevin and others)-(Group 1)
  • cyclaniliprole (Group 28) + flonicamid (Group 29 -Pradia
  • dinotefuran (Safari 20 SG)- (Group 4)
  • esfenvalerate (Asana XL and others)-Restricted use. (Group 3)
  • flupyradifurone (Altus)-(Group 4)
  • imidacloprid (Admire Pro, Prey 1.6 and others)-(Group 4)
  • insecticidal soaps and oils (Ecotec, M-pede, Ultra-Pure Oil, 440 Superior Oil, and others)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic production. Note: Some oils may cause discoloration.
  • pymetrozine (Endeavor and others)-(Group 9)
  • spirotetramat (Ultor, Movento)-(Group 23)
  • sulfoxaflor (Transform WG)- (Group 4c)
  • thiamethoxam (Flagship 25 WG)-(Group 4)

Management-biological control

  • aphid predators (Aphidoletes aphidimyza, Aphidius spp., Hippodamia spp., Chrysopa spp.)-Consider attracting predators with forage plantings as keeping some species of predators on-site has challenged growers.
  • Beauveria bassiana (BotaniGard ES)

See: