Pecan Phylloxera – Phylloxera devastatrix

Pecan Phylloxera (Phylloxera devastatrix)

Latin Name: Phylloxera devastatrix

Common Name: Pecan phylloxera

Appearance:

• Pecan phylloxera (Phylloxera devastatrix) is an aphid-like bug that causes galls on pecan trees. Phylloxera galls grow on the stems or blades of leaves.
• Pecan phylloxera is a little insect that looks like aphids (but without the cornicles) and range in hue from cream to pale yellow.
• Phylloxera has to suck mouthparts around a tenth to a fifth of an inch long. Their eating causes the tree to grow galls on injured leaves, stems, and nuts. Inside the galls, the phylloxera grows.
• In the spring, all phylloxera species overwinter in the tree or orchard and feed on new growth.

Hosts plants: Pecan trees

Territory: Throughout North America

Damage caused by Pecan Phylloxera:

Phylloxera devastatrix can destroy pecan trees. Although a significant infestation is unlikely to harm trees, it may certainly make them look ugly and lower yields for a season or two. In the spring, these aphid-like insects create knotty growths on pecan stems.

Description about Leaf chewers:

Insect chewing damage to plants can take several forms. Foliage or flowers may vanish when certain insects eat them. Occasionally, the plant will appear ragged and, upon closer inspection, will reveal bitten edges or cores. Plants can be cut at the root and topple over, or twigs can be girdled and die as a result. Mining or boring is the process of causing harm to a plant through chewing. Only the upper or lower portions are sometimes destroyed, producing a brown, burned look or skeletonization (openings between the veins).

Life History and Habits:

Nymphs develop from overwintering eggs and crawl to swollen leaf buds to feed, causing hollow, thick-walled galls to develop around them, deforming twigs, leaves, and nuts. These galls burst open in late May, exposing hundreds of second-generation adult females, who then give birth to a new generation of unlimited males and females.