Elatobium abietinum (Walker, 1849)

Morphological characters

1.4-2.0 mm.
Apterous: green, antennae equal to half length of body with short processus terminalis, cornicles straight, cylindrical and cauda elongate.
Alate: green, antennae and cornicles dark.

See identification file

Life cycles

Monoecious holocyclic and sometimes parthenogenetic in regions with relatively mild winters.

Host plants

Mainly Picea abies, Norway spruce, but also P. glauca, white spruce, P. sitchensis, Sitka spruce.

Particular characteristics

Elatobium abietinum bites into the underside of spruce needles (Picea abies) which become yellow. Individuals are highly active and move around on shoots. The alates are produced in spring and begin activity in summer in response to the plant’s nutritional status. They colonize other spruce species. They generate larvae which estivate and resume their development in autumn to produce sexual forms or parthenogenetic individuals.

Agronomic impact

Elatobium abietinum can become a serious forest parasite. Its colonies on spruce induce discoloration and loss of older needles, which sometimes involves severe defoliation. Such damage become noticeable from September and can spread throughout the winter.

Natural enemies

Parasitoids :

• Lysaphidus schimitsheki
• Ephedrus koponeni