{"id":1668,"date":"2020-06-22T11:15:58","date_gmt":"2020-06-22T15:15:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/pecan\/?p=1668"},"modified":"2020-06-29T18:40:47","modified_gmt":"2020-06-29T22:40:47","slug":"scouting-aphids-early","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/pecan\/2020\/06\/scouting-aphids-early\/","title":{"rendered":"Scouting Aphids Early"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Over the past two weeks, I’ve seen yellow aphids, black pecan aphids and black pecan aphid damage in orchards in Southeast Georgia. I’ve also talked with many county agents who are seeing the same thing. What do we need to know? And what should we do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Early black pecan aphid damage<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Black Pecan Aphids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First, remember that black pecan aphid adults can be present in our orchards throughout the season. This time of the year they move in and out of the orchard feeding. You may even see the yellow spots on the leaves right now. However, it is later in the season when their populations build, and they start reproducing. We do not want to treat black aphids until we start seeing nymph clusters. I am seeing some adult black aphids now. Notice the difference in adult aphids and parasitized aphids below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Threshold: When nymph cluster appear on damaged leaves.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pecan aphids are most commonly attacked by Aphelinid wasps. Yellow pecan aphids and black-margined aphids parasitized by these wasps turn black, which can be misidentified as black pecan aphids. A way to check for this is by inspecting if the aphid moves once disturbed since mummified aphids are immobile. Mummified aphids are also rounded and bigger than unparasitized aphids. Also, black pecan aphids are mostly found with dead yellow or brown spots on the leaves.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Yellow Aphids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Black-margined aphids and yellow aphids (both yellow aphids) are present in orchards all season, but we usually have a spike in numbers in mid-to late June and again in August. Generally these can be left alone for beneficial insects to feed and not be treated. With yellow aphids, we commonly see a glossy appearance on the leaves called honeydew. This is often concerning and understandably so. However, the tree leaves can take a good bit of honeydew and be fine. The best indicator of treating yellow aphids is if sooty mold begins growing on the honeydew. This can limit photosynthesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Threshold: 50 aphids per compound leaf.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n