Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann, 1802)

Morphological characters

1.2-2.6 mm.
Apterous: crimsony brown, covered with a mass of white wooly wax secretion.
Alate: brown, chestnut brown, antennae short, cornicles reduced to a pore; cauda short and half-moon shaped, on wing medial vein once-branched.

See identification file

Life cycles

Anholocyclic in France.

Host plants

Malus domestica (apple), Crataegus (hawthorn).

Particular characteristics

E. lanigerum originates from the east of the United States and Canada. It was reported in 1812 in the French administrative area of Manche and Calvados in Normandy. Colonies develop on branches. The larvae secrete white waxy filaments that are highly characreistic. A succession of 12-14 generations can be produced over a year and the average fecundity is around 100 larvae per adult. The aphids circulate between the aerial and underground parts of the plant.
To control this aphid, a parasitoid (Aphelinus mali) was introduced into France in 1920.

Agronomic impact

E. lanigerum clusters on branches, young or old, on collets of apple tree roots. The insect’s injections induce gall formation on roots and branches which hinder the circulation of sap. These galls can develop into canker due to the pathogenic fungus Nectria.
The presence of a few colonies in spring can generate devastating proliferations during summer.

Natural enemies

Predators :

• Chrysopa carnea
• Harmonia axyridis
• Adalia bipunctata
• Aphidoletes aphidimyza

Parasitoids :

Aphelinus mal