Field Identification
A dark brown to black aphid that forms dense colonies on citrus flush, curling and deforming new growth and excreting honeydew. Can vector citrus tristeza virus where the disease exists.
Shiny black adults and nymphs on tender shoots and undersides of young leaves; winged forms disperse between trees.
How to Deal With It
Organic Control Methods
Avoid excessive nitrogen flushes; screen greenhouse citrus; release biological controls in enclosed structures.
Lady beetles, lacewings, syrphid larvae, and parasitic wasps (Lipolexis spp.) commonly suppress outbreaks if not disrupted.
Preserve flowering groundcovers for predators; knock down early colonies with water on small trees.
Strong spray of water on backyard trees; prune heavily infested flush into soapy water.
Insecticidal soap or narrow-range horticultural oil on new growth—avoid applications during bloom heat that harm natural enemies.
Let Nature Handle It
Natural Enemies
- Parasitic Wasps
- Ladybugs
- Lacewings
- Hoverfly Larvae
Threat Map