Bugs with wooly bum.

Emily

Hello,

I have recently been given a Chinese Elm as a present. I went to water it by lightly showering it over the top and discovered flea like insects jumping from the bonsai. They are about 3 mm long with cotton wool like material growing out from their rear. I think they finally develop into the fly in the picture because they have the same heads. The leaves dont look chewed. I have no idea what they are and am worried that they might damage my plant. There is a spider living in my tree so I am hoping that it keeps the bugs at bay. The plant looks fine now with new growth and all...but I really appreciate any information about these bugs.

Thanks!
Emily

Attached Images

	photos 008.jpg (67.3 KB, 27 views)
	photos 015.jpg (40.9 KB, 29 views)
	bug.jpg (72.0 KB, 26 views)

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TreeBay

I don't know if wooly aphids fly, but it's a possibility. Aphids are sucking insects, so you wouldn't necessarily see chewing damage.

Let's identify them anyway before we talk about controls:

here's a picture:

http://ipm.ncsu.edu/apple/image/fig2.35.gif

Regards,

Matt

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Alasdair

I wouldn't have thought they were aphids if they are jumping. This looks more like a larval bug which is maturing on your elm. I am prety sure i have seen these bugs before in a magazine i collected as a youngster, i'm feeling really familiar here. I'll have a look tonight and see what i can find.

The last picture looks kinda like a cicada or something (just by the head). My best guess is some form of leaf-hopper.

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rockm

You don't give your location, but this looks like a wooly adelgid, a pest similar to an aphid. There are a couple of species, but one the Balsam wooly Adelgid is a real pest on conifers in the Northeastern U.S. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/yancey/ag/pests/hemlock.shtml

Emily

Ah, I am located in Australia, Melbourne. My climate can be quite dry despite occasional rain. The fly flies quite well. I had a look at all the suggestions of what they might be, they seem closely related, but not quite right. I'll keep looking and stay posted for anyone interested.
Thanks for all your suggestions. Any more would be welcome.

Emily

Emily

Okay, I found out what they are, Passionvine Hopper, Scolypopa australia (walker). They suck the sap from the plant. Treatment suggestions are spraying the plant with neem oil or introducing wasps (which i am not keen on). Is there any other way of getting rid of this pest?

rowan57

Neem oil is meant to be good for most things if you can get hold of it. Someone on the forum also has a recipe that involves liquid soap, neem oil and water, cant remember who though.

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