Chaetosiphon fragaefolii (Cockerell, 1901)

Morphology

0.9-1.8 mm.
Apterous: small, yellowish white and almost translucent, beraing capitate hairs and cornicles cylindrical, fine and pale.
Alate: body elongate, abdomen with a trapezoid patch, cornicles fine and straight, cauda short and pointed.

See identification file

Life cycles

Anholocyclic; in mild winters sustains itself on very young leaves.

Host plants

Fragaria sp (cultivated and wild strawberry).

Agronomic impact

Chaetosiphon fragaefolii is an early developer and colonizes the whole of the plant at the beginning of spring. Dense colonies on the underside of leaves cause the plant to blacken and dry out, spoiling the fruit formation.
The species is dangerous,as a vector of several persistent or non-persistent viruses.