GIANT WILLOW APHID: a NEW APHID on WILLOWS in NEW ZEALAND Giant Willow Aphid (GWA), Tuberolachnus Salignus (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Is a New to New Zealand Organism
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GIANT WILLOW APHID: A NEW APHID ON WILLOWS IN NEW ZEALAND Giant willow aphid (GWA), Tuberolachnus salignus (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is a new to New Zealand organism. GWA was first detected in Central Auckland on crack willow (Salix fragilis) in late December 2013. At the same time it was reported from Northland and picked up in the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) High Risk Site Surveillance Programme in southeast Auckland. Although its distribution is almost cosmopolitan wherever willows are grown, this is the first record in Australasia. Since its first detection in Auckland, T. salignus has been reported from both the North and South Islands (Figure 1). Prior to the New Zealand find, GWA was notably absent from Australia, but in early 2014 it was discovered in Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales. GWA is one of the largest aphid species in the world. It is the largest of more than 120 species of aphids that feed on willows (Salix spp.), measuring up to 5.8 mm in length, and is brown to dark brown with several rows of black patches (Figure 2). GWA has a large, dark brown tubercle in the centre of the dorsum and two smaller tubercles just in front of the siphunculi, which are on dark cones. These are very distinctive characteristics. It lives on the stems and branches of willow, where it forms dense colonies (Figure 3). In Europe the life cycle takes Figure 1: Present distribution of giant willow aphid in New Zealand two to three weeks when the temperature is 17.5–20oC. We can therefore expect multiple generations in a New Zealand growing season. GWA reproduces solely by parthenogenesis and no males have ever been recorded. Aphids are known to be long-lived, with the winged forms (alates) in particular giving lengthy maternal care to their offspring. There are some unusual features about the seasonality of this organism. Whereas aphids in general tend to be less active in winter Figure 3: Dense colonies of giant willow and more active in the warmer months, aphid enveloping a willow branch in the United Kingdom GWA has been recorded and collected from August (late Figure 2: Giant willow aphid, summer) to early March (spring), with Tuberolachnus salignus none being seen for the following five months. It is not known where, how, or in SURVEILLANCE 41 (4) 2014 29 what form these aphids spend the spring observed around honeydew deposits at and early summer months. They seem some infestation sites in New Zealand. to be very active in frost and heavy snow MPI has also received many public during the winter months of January and enquiries about wasp problems associated February. They are strongly aggregative with GWA. Increased wasp activity and can build up to very large colonies around willows is a good indicator of the in late summer. possible presence of GWA. Although we expected a similar trend In Japan, T. salignus is parasitised by in New Zealand (i.e., aphids present on the braconid wasp Pauesia salignae the host from December to August), (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). No they were not observed or reported from parasitoid of the species has been late May to August 2014. In late August recorded in Europe and to date no a few adults and nymphs were seen on parasitoids have been observed in new growth of Salix sepulcralis. Since New Zealand, though predators such there has been no ongoing surveillance, as Adelia bipunctata and Coccinella we cannot be certain of the presence undecimpunctata (Coleoptera: or disappearance of T. salignus during Coccinellidae) have occasionally been winter in New Zealand conditions. found in association with GWA in New Zealand. The hosts associated with GWA are various species of Salicaceae: willow This aphid is a recent arrival and key (Salix spp.) and poplar (Populus spp.). areas requiring further study are its New Zealand host records as of May behaviour in a new environment, host 2014 include Salix alba var. vitellina, preferences and management options. S. babylonica, S. caprea, S. cinerea, S. fragilis, S. humboldtiana, S. matsudana, Salix x reichardtii (hybrid), Salix Disna Gunawardana x sepulcralis (hybrid), S. viminalis Senior Scientist (Entomology), PHEL and Populus nigra. Ministry for Primary Industries [email protected] GWA has been identified as a potential pest of hybrid willows grown for biomass production all around the world. It can Alan Flynn markedly reduce willow tree growth, Manager (Entomology), PHEL both above and below ground and Ministry for Primary Industries reduces the survival of infested trees. [email protected] The extent of damage in New Zealand is unknown but it could pose a threat to Heather Pearson shelter belts, flood protection plantings Incursion Investigator and specimen trees in public parks Surveillance and Incursion Investigation and reserves. There is concern that the (Plants and Environment) impact on the root mass of a willow may Ministry for Primary Industries reduce its effectiveness for flood and [email protected] erosion control. Stephanie Sopow GWA colonies can produce large Forest Entomologist amounts of honeydew, which attracts SCION (New Zealand Forest Research ants, flies and wasps. Vespula spp. and Institute) Polistes spp. wasp activity has been Rotorua [email protected] 30 SURVEILLANCE 41 (4) 2014.