Black citrus aphid
Toxoptera aurantii
2 host plants
Last updated
On camellia leaves you will find small black soft-bodied aphids clustered on new growth, producing sticky honeydew that coats foliage and twigs. Infested leaves show curling or stunting, and sooty mold will follow on sticky residue areas. Look for this pest on camellia japonica and sasanqua varieties growing in sheltered warm microclimates.
Spray water forcefully to dislodge aphids. Apply insecticidal soap or horticultural oil when temperatures allow (below 85F). Maintain plant vigor through appropriate watering; established camellias tolerate moderate aphid populations without decline. Preserve natural enemies like ladybird beetles and parasitic wasps by avoiding broad-spectrum sprays. Damage generally cosmetic.
Quick Reference
All these aphids are light green in color. Spirea aphid is very difficult to separate from apple aphid without high magnification, whereas apple grain aphid can be distinguished by a yellowish green stripe down the middle of the back. Apple grain aphids infest pear only in the early part of the season, while apple aphid is present all summer. Aphids suck plant sap and live in colonies on new shoots. Populations are damaging only sporadically. Damage appears as rolled leaves, stunted terminal...
Cultural Controls
- biological control Many parasites and predators attack aphid.
- Monitor the proportion of aphid mummies to unparasitized adults and the number of predators such as lady beetles.
- If the biocontrol agents appear to be gaining control, avoid sprays which would disrupt this system.
- Most products available for aphid control are highly disruptive of natural enemies.
- Management-cultural control Aphid populations tend to be higher in plants that are fertilized liberally with nitrogen.
- Prune out suckers...