Balsam twig aphid
Mindarus abietinus
15 host plants
Last updated
Data Coverage 1 of 6 dimensions
On true firs (grand fir, silver fir, white fir) and balsam fir you will see honeydew-covered twigs with small glossy black aphids clustered at twig terminals in late summer and fall. Infested foliage shows sticky residue and sooty mold coating. Look for the aphids concentrating on new growth during August through October.
Prune and remove infested twig terminals before aphids produce overwintering eggs. Horticultural oil applied in March or April targets overwintering eggs on bark. If populations persist, spray insecticidal soap in late August when new generations appear. Preserve natural predators by avoiding broad-spectrum insecticides. Damage is typically cosmetic.
Quick Reference
Order
Hemiptera
Type
sucking-insect
Host Plants
15
Cultural Controls
- Provide proper plant culture.
- Healthy plants can tolerate more insect damage.
- Avoid overfertilization.
- High levels of nitrogen in the foliage encourages aphid reproduction.
- Switch to a slow-release or low-nitrogen formula if necessary.
- Hose infested trees with a strong stream of water to wash off insects.
Host Plants (15)
Abies alba European Silver Fir, Common Silver Fir Abies amabilis Pacific Silver Fir Abies balsamea Balsam Fir Abies concolor White Fir, Colorado Fir Abies delavayi Delavay's Fir Abies grandis Grand Fir Abies koreana Korean Fir Abies lasiocarpa Subalpine Fir Rocky Mountain Fir, Alpine Fir Abies magnifica California Red Fir, Red Fir, Slivertip Fir Abies nordmanniana Nordmann Fir, Caucasian Fir Abies numidica Algerian Fir Abies pindrow West Himalayan Fir, Pindrow Fir Abies pinsapo Spanish Fir, Spanish Pin Fir Abies pinsapo subsp. marocana Moroccan Fir Abies procera Noble Fir