• The Cypress Aphid (Cinara cuppressivora)

Published le 25 Apr 2007
Dernière modification le 25 Apr 2007

  • Classification of the organism

    • Common name Order/Family Scientific name Plants/attacked parts Localization
    Cypress aphid  Hemiptera: aphididae  Cinara cuppressivora  green foliage, woody stems   

  • Description

    • C. cuppressivora is a brownish soft-bodied aphid ranging from 2-5 mm in length, often with a grey waxy coating. Adults can be either winged or wingless. Usually, they occur in colonies on twigs and branches of infested tress. Adults produce young nymphs rapidly hence causing a rapid build-up in population. Reproduction occurs mostly by parthenogenesis and adults give birth to live nymphs. Three nymphal instars occur, lasting for about 11 days. Adults survive for a period of about 15 days and the entire lifespan extends over approximately 25 days. Table below shows the number of nymphal instars and developmental periods of C. cuppressivora, when reared on cuttings of J. bermudiana under laboratory conditions (25°C and 75% RH).

    Stage

    Range

    (days)

    Mean duration

    (days) +

    1st instar

    4 - 5

    4.2 + 0.44

    2nd instar

    3 - 5

    3.9 + 0.44

    3rd instar

    2 - 5

    2.6 + 0.84

    Adult

    11 - 17

    14.7 + 1.1

    Total

    20 - 32

    25.4 + 2.9

    (Alleck & Seewooruthun, 2002)

    Adult cypress aphids on cypress branch

  • Description of the damages

    • Damage

    The aphid exploits a wide range of feeding sites varying from green branches to woody stems. Damage mainly occurs by sap feeding hence causing yellowing and browning of foliage. The saliva produced is phytotoxic and leads to necrosis in the phloem resulting subsequently in twig withering. Feeding retards new growth and causes desiccation of the stems with a progressive dieback of heavily infested trees. The overall effect ranges from partial damage to eventual death of the entire tree depending on the severity of the infestation. Death can occur within tree months in case of severe infestation. Large amount of honeydew is also produced favouring growth of sooty mould which hereby hinders photosynthesis and gas exchange.


  • Possible confusion

    • Other species of Cinara

    Cinara cronartii and C. juniperi have become important pests of pine in many African and Latin American countries. Loss of commercial plantations could have serious effects on the domestic wood and timer supply of many countries.


  • Contamination mode

    • Dispersal

    Cypress aphids are easily transported through planting materials, foliage and woody stems.

     


  • Host Plants

    • Host Range

    C. cuppressivora has a wide host range. It attacks cypresses, cedars and junipers. Worldwide, it feeds on various trees from the following genera: Cupressus, Juniperus, Thuja, Callitris, Widdringtonia, Chamaecyparis, Austrocedrus and the hybrid Cupressocyparis.

  • Host Plants list

    • Plante hôteDegré d'infestation
       

  • Geographic distribution

    • The pest has probably originated from the Middle East region where Cupressus and Juniperus species occur naturally. It is also present along the margins of Western Europe, North India, Africa (Burundi, Congo, Kenya, Ethiopia, Malawi, Morocco, Tanzania, South Africa, Uganda, ZImbabwe), Yemen, Colombia, North (Canada, USA) and South America (Brazil, Colombia).


  • Country of edition

    • Maurice

  • Author/Institution

    • Indranee Buldawoo


  • Control methods


    • Control measures