Pest On Juniperus Procumbens 'nana'

Little Arborist

I know that this picture may lack in detail due to it's blown up size, if it works at all, but I am wondering if anybody can identify this pest.

Apparently a sucking insect, which looks like a rather large wingless aphid, (about 3/16 of an inch or so in diameter). Black, with greyish markings, and inhabiting my juniper in large numbers. It was not there a week and a half ago when last I looked the plant over,(at least not in such numbers.)

They have managed to nearly kill of almost two inches of one branch, fortunately, it is material I would likely have removed anyway.

I am hoping someone will have encountered the little beast before and have a recommendation for its control, but I will probably visit my local agricultural office to get the biologist to identify it tommorrow.

Thanks in advance...

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Revant01

I have a preying mantis that lives in one of my bonsai. It keeps it free of pests. Pity i dont have a couple more for the other trees.

spoonman

where did you get a preying mantis? wouldnt it just run away?

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jhill

here you go

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Little Arborist

YOu can buy praying mantis cocoons in the garden centers, when the time of year is right.

As for my pest, it turns out to be the Giant Conifer Aphid. A wingless variety. This is a new plant, and it probably came in from the nursery with it.

My book on pests says most of the plants which host it are hardy enough that no control is neccesary, but I took a sample into the local Dept. Of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension office where the biologist recommended the typical soap and water solution since it is on a plant which undergoes more stresses than a garden juniper usually does, (bonsai.)

The most interesting thing was that aphids are parthinogenic, meaning science has identified no males in the species. They are believed to be all female, and born pregnant!

8}

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Revant01

I found it on one of my azaleas while trimming it. So i moved it to a different tree and it has been there ever since, prob 4 or 5 months now. It is not as big as the one pictured tho.

Bonsainut

Little,
I get Giant Con. Aphid on my Black pines in the mid summer. They can do alot of damage. I use Isotox every 45 days, starting about June. It is systemic and controls them effectivly. good luck

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Little Arborist

Thanks for the reply Bonsainut.

I thought about using a systemic as a last resort. I didn't want to handle the plants with anything on the surface of the foliage. Fortunately a 10% solution of dishsoap and water appears to have completely wiped them out.

If they show again, I will take your advice though.

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