Polk County’s Most Wanted- Alder Woolly Aphid!
Have you seen the Alder Woolly Aphid?
Conserving Carolina and botanist/ecologist David Campbell need your help in locating this month’s “Polk County’s Most Wanted—Animal,” a fascinating member of our insect fauna – the Alder Woolly Aphid (Prociphilus tessellatus). Polk County’s Most Wanted is a community science initiative with a new challenge each month, in which you can expand the scientific understanding of the flora and fauna of Polk County.
How do I identify Alder Woolly Aphid?
All Aphids belong to a group of insects known collectively as Homopterans. Aphids have sucking mouth parts and typically feed on plant juices, and in doing so, these insects may become pests to both farmers and gardeners alike. Many aphid species have fascinating life histories, with some being found only on plant roots and residing in subterranean galleries where ants attend to them while feeding on the aphid’s secretion of honeydew – a sweet substance favored by ants and some other insects.
Many species of aphids are cryptically colored green and can blend in among the twigs and leaves of their host plants. However, the Alder Woolly Aphid is a conspicuous white color due to waxy secretions from its exoskeleton. Alder Woolly Aphids also feed in colonies making them quite visible, even from a distance. During appropriate times of the year, a careful observer may note the larvae of the Harvester Butterfly (Feniseca tarquinius) – our only carnivorous butterfly species – feeding on colonies of Alder Woolly Aphid.
Where should I look for Alder Woolly Aphids?
With leaves falling during this autumnal season, now is a great time to go out and hunt for Alder Woolly Aphids. As their name suggests, their host plants are Alders (Alnus spp.). Alders prefer damp habitats and are typically found in and around wetlands and along stream sides. Smooth or Tag Alder (Alnus serrulata) is a common species and occurs throughout Polk County, as well as North Carolina as a whole. At this time of year, focus your search on the lower limbs of Alder trees.
If you think that you have found Alder Woolly Aphid colonies in Polk County, please contact Pam Torlina at Conserving Carolina by email at pam@conservingcarolina.org, and if you can, provide a clear photo, for a definitive confirmation. Locating these colonies may also provide leads toward locating Harvester Butterflies, which are an uncommonly encountered species in our region.
For More Information
Visit Conserving Carolina’s website, conservingcarolina.org/polk-most-wanted, for more information about “Polk County’s Most Wanted” and to download and print a “Pocket Guide” with all of the “Most Wanted” plants, animals, and habitats that you can be on the lookout for!
Also, a culmination of David Campbell’s seven years in the field documenting the rare and significant flora and fauna in Polk County have been compiled in a book titled, “An Inventory of the Significant Natural Areas of Polk County, North Carolina.” The document can be downloaded for free on Conserving Carolina’s website at conservingcarolina.org/polk-county-inventory, or a hard copy can be purchased, at cost, on Amazon.
Conserving Carolina, your local land trust, is dedicated to protecting land and water, promoting good stewardship, and creating opportunities for people to enjoy nature. Learn more and become a member at conservingcarolina.org.