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Giant conifer aphid

Cinara spp.

57 host plants

Last updated

Data Coverage 1 of 6 dimensions
Host Plants
GDD Threshold
Peak Activity
Damage Severity
Monitoring
Regional Notes

Large, dark brownish-black aphids (up to 0.2 inch) congregate in visible colonies on the undersides of fir branches throughout Western Washington, especially from midsummer into fall. Infested true fir species like grand fir and white fir develop sticky honeydew coating the foliage, with sooty mold often following. Heavily infested trees show yellowing needles and reduced growth vigor; young seedlings may be killed outright. Look for large clustered aphids.

Monitor fir trees for colonies during summer; lady beetles and lacewings naturally suppress Cinara aphids. Conserve these predators by avoiding broad-spectrum insecticides. For young landscape firs, blast colonies with strong water spray or apply neem oil to affected branches. Horticultural oil sprays in early fall reduce overwintering populations without harming beneficial insects.

Quick Reference

Host Plants
57

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...

Host Plants (57)

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 Pinus albicaulis Whitebark Pine, Scrub Pine, White Pine Pinus aristata Bristlecone Pine, Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Interior Bristlecone Pinus attenuata Knobcone Pine Pinus banksiana Jack Pine, Scrub Pine, Banksian Pine, Hudson Bay Pine Pinus bungeana Lacebark Pine, Whitebark Pine, Baipi Song Pinus canariensis Canary Island Pine Pinus cembra Swiss Stone Pine Pinus contorta Lodgepole Pine Pinus contorta var. contorta Shore Pine Pinus contorta var. latifolia Rocky Mountain Lodgepole Pine Pinus coulteri Coulter Pine, Bigcone Pine Pinus densiflora Japanese Red Pine Pinus edulis Pinyon Pine, Piñón Pine, Two-needle Pinyon Colorado Pinyon Pinus elliottii Slash Pine, Swamp Pine Pinus flexilis Limber Pine, Rocky Mountain White Pine Pinus halepensis Aleppo Pine, Jerusalem Pine Pinus heldreichii Bosnian Pine, Snakeskin Pine Pinus jeffreyi Jeffrey Pine, Western Yellow Pine, Bull Pine Pinus kwangtungensis Kwangtung Pine, Guangdong Pine Pinus lambertiana Sugar Pine Pinus leucodermis Bosnian Pine Pinus monophylla Singleleaf Pinon Pine, One-leaved Pine Pinus monticola Western White Pine Pinus mugo Mugo Pine Pinus mugo var. pumilio Mugo pine, Dwarf Mugo pine Pinus nigra Austrian Pine Pinus parviflora Japanese White Pine Pinus parvifola Pinus parvifola Pinus pinaster Maritime Pine, Cluster Pine, Turpentine Pine Pinus pinea Italian Stone Pine, Umbrella Pine Pinus ponderosa Ponderosa Pine, Western Yellow Pine Pinus pumila Japanese Stone Pine, Dwarf Siberian Pine Pinus radiata Monterey Pine Pinus resinosa Red Pine Pinus sabiniana Gray Pine, Foothill Pine Pinus strobiformis Southwestern White Pine, Mexican White Pine, Chihuahua White Pine Pinus strobus Eastern White Pine Pinus sylvestris Scots Pine, Scotch Pine Pinus thunbergii Japanese Black Pine Pinus virginiana Virginia Pine, Scrub Pine, Jersey Pine Pinus wallichiana Himalayan Pine, Bhutan Pine Pinus yunnanensis Yunnan Pine