Ash Leaf Curl Aphids

Are the leaves on your ash trees curling? This could be a sign that you have an infestation of aphids. More specifically, it could be a sign that you have ash leaf curl aphids. These creatures are especially common when there has been plenty of rain and moisture in the air.

Woolly Aphid Development

The ash leaf curl aphids are a type of wooly aphid. The creatures are common and will appear in the spring, where they start to feed on the underside of your green ash leaves. They take the sap, meaning the leaves don’t get all the nutrients they need, so they curl inwards. As the year progresses, the pests will move to the roots of the trees.
While the curling looks alarming and can take away from the beautiful of the ash trees, it is just cosmetic damage. The whole tree isn’t affected by the creatures in the majority of the cases. There are some extreme cases where infestations can damage the whole tree, but these are extremely rare.
It’s the sticky honeydew left behind that causes more of an issue. This is the excreted waste left behind and can attract bees, wasps, and other pests to the tree. The honeydew can also stain the trees and block the light from reaching all parts of the tree.

Treating Ash Leaf Curl Aphids

Most of the time, there’s no need to use anything to get rid of the creatures. Since the majority of the problems as aesthetic, it can be worth just leaving the ash leaf curl aphids alone. You can remove the curling leaves to create a look of no pest problem.

If you are concerned about ash leaf curl aphids on your ash tree, contact SprayTech, Colorado commercial and residential tree specialists.