Identification
- Mostly on spruce and pine.
- Insects are present, usually in groups.
- Shiny sticky material (honeydew) or dark material (sooty mold) may be present on foliage or objects below.
Control
- Reduce applications of nitrogen fertilizers.
- Reduce applications of insecticides for other pests, which could trigger an aphid outbreak.
- Spray with growing season oil (All Seasons, Volck), insecticidal soap (Safer, Concern), permethrin (High Yield 38 Plus, Astro), imidacloprid (Merit), malathion, acephate (Orthene), cyfluthrin (Tempo), or deltamethrin (DeltaGard)* as aphids appear (May through September) or apply a soil treatment with imidacloprid (Merit)* prior to infestation if a serious infestation is expected. The soil treatment has a 60-day delay.
