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Poplar Petiole Gall Aphid

Pemphigus populitransversus

The Poplar Petiole Gall Aphid is a tiny bug that loves to live on poplar trees. It creates little bumps called galls on the leaves, which are like cozy homes for them!

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Poplar Petiole Gall Aphid is a tiny, soft-bodied insect, typically pale yellowish-green. It lives hidden inside a distinctive, purse-shaped or bean-like gall that forms on the leaf stem of poplar trees. These galls are initially green, often turning reddish or yellowish.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHemipteraFamilyAphididaeGenusPemphigus
Poplar Petiole Gall Aphid
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Poplar Petiole Gall Aphid

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Ants sometimes 'farm' aphids, gently tapping them to get a sweet liquid called honeydew!

Beneath the soil, some aphids spend winter feeding on plant roots, completely unseen!

Some aphids can grow wings and fly to new trees when their home gets too crowded!

Their amazing gall home acts like a secret fort, keeping young aphids safe from hungry predators!

Special abilities

Ability

Gall Creator

Poplar Petiole Gall Aphid can create amazing plant galls because of special chemicals they inject, which tricks the poplar tree into growing a protective home.

Ability

Sap Sucker

Poplar Petiole Gall Aphid has a straw-like mouthpart (proboscis) that helps them expertly suck sugary sap directly from the poplar tree's veins.

Ability

Clonal Reproduction

Poplar Petiole Gall Aphid has a superpower of 'virgin birth' (parthenogenesis) that helps them reproduce super fast without needing a mate.

Ability

Host Swapper

Poplar Petiole Gall Aphid can switch hosts between poplar trees and other plants, which helps them survive different seasons and conditions.

Measurements & details

Size
1-3 mm
Lifespan
14-30 days
Leg Count
6
Colony Size
1000

Diet & Feeding

These tiny insects drink the sugary sap right from poplar trees, like sipping juice through a straw!

Age differences: Early stages feed inside galls on poplar sap; later generations feed on roots of mustard family plants.

Primary Foods

  • Poplar sap
  • Cottonwood sap
  • Mustard plant roots

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

eats

Eastern Cottonwood

Populus deltoides

Feeds on sap, causing gall formation.

depends on

Field Mustard

Brassica rapa

Overwintering generation feeds on its roots.

eats

Convergent Lady Beetle

Hippodamia convergens

Adults and larvae prey on aphids.

eats

Small-spotted Hoverfly

Eupeodes corollae

Its larvae voraciously consume aphids.

parasitizes

Aphid Parasitoid Wasp

Aphelinus asychis

Lays eggs inside aphids, killing them.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

It's best to look at insects from a distance and not touch them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is Poplar Petiole Gall Aphid?

1-3 mm

How long does Poplar Petiole Gall Aphid live?

14-30 days

What does Poplar Petiole Gall Aphid eat?

These tiny insects drink the sugary sap right from poplar trees, like sipping juice through a straw!

Where is Poplar Petiole Gall Aphid usually found?

Forests

How does Poplar Petiole Gall Aphid hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Poplar Petiole Gall Aphid have?

6

How large are Poplar Petiole Gall Aphid colonies?

1000

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