About
Birch Aphids are sap sucking insects at feed on birch trees throughout Alaska. In rural areas their presence is often noted when the aphids begin to feed on trees near a residence and the birch trees being to secrete a sticky honeydew upon anything left under the tree.
Description
Birch aphids are dull green and about 1/8-inch long, soft, pear-shaped body, and long legs. Like most of Alaska's insect they winter in eggs emerging in spring. Spring hatched Birch Aphids are female which can reproduce without mating, giving birth to living young.
Several generations may be produced this way before mid summer. Dry warm temperatures allow for increased reproduction. Early generations never develop wings, however towards latter generations or winged, mating male and female aphids are born, which will lay eggs that will remain dormant over the winter.
Diet & Habitat
Their mouthparts are developed for piercing the largest veins of Silver Birch leaves and sucking juices from which they derive their nutrition.
Euceraphis betulae are preyed upon by many types of birds, two-spot ladybird beetle (Adalia
bipunctata), small wasps, and syrphid flies.