Farm Forestry New Zealand
PESTS AND DISEASES OF FORESTRY IN NEW ZEALAND
Does the aphid Issigella californica occur on Pinus radiata in New Zealand?
Scion is the leading provider of forest-related knowledge in New Zealand
Formerly known as the Forest Research Institute, Scion has been a leader in research relating to forest health for over 50 years. The Rotorua-based Crown Research Institute continues to provide science that will protect all forests from damage caused by insect pests, pathogens and weeds. The information presented below arises from these research activities.
From Forest Health News 72, March 1998.
The pine aphid Essigella californica was discovered in Canberra, in mid March, on Pinus radiata. A second unrelated specimen was intercepted by Australian quarantine inspectors in a consignment of New Zealand avocados imported into Sydney. The New Zealand Plant Protection Centre, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, at Lynfield were notified and a search initiated. Subsequently, MAF staff have collected similar aphids in New Zealand which are consistent with the descriptions for E. californica . These specimens have been sent to the British Museum of Natural History for confirmation of this identification. To date, this aphid has been collected by MAF, on Pinus radiata , located in Whangarei, Warkworth and Blockhouse Bay, Auckland. If identifications are correct, then this aphid has probably been present in New Zealand for some time. Essigella is a genus restricted to North America, including Mexico, though E. californica has become established in France and Spain in the last ten years. Essigella californica does not have high pest status in its native habitat but there is anecdotal information that it has damaged pines in France. However, there is no information available on the effect, if any, on P. radiata in Canberra. If the aphid specimens collected in New Zealand do prove to be E. californica , then its presence and distribution on pines will have to be closely monitored. Essigella californica is described as having a grey-green thorax and lime green abdomen, with or without brown dorsal spots. Body length of 1.5 - 2.0 mm. Legs variably pigmented, often mainly pale, tibiae sometimes darker. It is very cryptic and feeds among the bases of the needle sheath of Pinus spp. in several subsections of the genus (see below for possible host species). It also sometimes occurs on Pseudotsuga menziesii and P. macrocarpa.
Specimens of likely aphids should be forwarded to Clive Appleton, Forest Research, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua.
Cembrae P. koraiensis P. pumila P. sibirica P. cembra P. albicaulis
Strobi P. strobus P. monticola P. lambertiana P. flexilis P. strobiformis P. ayacahuite P. peuce P. armandii P- griffithii P. dalatensis P. parviflora P. morrisonicola P. fen7.eUa.na P. wangii
Ponderosae P. ponderosa P. washoensis P. Jeffrey i P. engelmannii P. durangensis P. cooperi P. montezumae P. hartwegii P. michoacana P. pseudostrobus P. douglasiana P. teocote P. lawsonii
Sabinianae P. sabiniana P. coulteri P. torreyana
Oocarpae P. radiata P. attenuata P. muricata P. patula P- greggii P. oocarpa P. pringlei
This information is intended for general interest only. It is not intended to be a substitute for specific specialist advice on any matter and should not be relied on for that purpose. Scion will not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or exemplary damages, loss of profits, or any other intangible losses that result from using the information provided on this site.
(Scion is the trading name of the New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited.)
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