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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Wooly Hackberry Aphid question (1 Viewer)

JDV

Well-known member
I have searched high and low on the Net for info on this bug. All I find are pics and basic info. My question is: Why are they swarming everywhere? Everywhere I look or go I see them. Ive never seen them before until this fall. What is causing this outbreak? Thanx I live in Tennessee.
 
Outbreaks of any insect are due to many factors. One of them is the weather. If temperature and humidity are in the optimal range, all insects tend to reproduce more quickly, even more quickly than their parasites (braconids, pteromalids etc).
Another factor is the human being. With pesticides, the human kills not only the pests, but also the parasites. Besides, cutting certain species of weeds where parasites normally rest diminish their populations.
 
One thing causing Aphididae outbreaks is their habit to reproduce rapidly by parthenogenesis. They also often escape attention, as they are so small. Woolly aphids are noticed because of their outlook.
 
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