Witch-Hazel Cone Gall Aphid
ExploreInsects
Witch-Hazel Cone Gall Aphid
hormaphis hamamelidis
The Witch-Hazel Cone Gall Aphid is a tiny insect that creates unusual galls on witch-hazel trees. These galls provide a special home for the aphids to live and grow!
Habitat: Witch-hazel trees in forests and gardens.
Appearance
The Witch-Hazel Cone Gall Aphid is a tiny, pear-shaped insect, typically green to yellowish-brown, often with darker markings. Wingless forms are more rounded, while winged adults possess delicate, clear wings. They are visually distinct from other aphids by their presence inside cone-shaped galls.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHemipteraFamilyAphididaeGenusHormaphis
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Some baby aphids are born already pregnant with their own babies!
Their sweet sticky waste, called honeydew, is sometimes eaten by ants!
These tiny insects cleverly trick plants into building them protective homes!
They drink sugary sap from plants using a special straw-like mouthpart!
Special abilities
Ability
Clone Army Commander
Witch-Hazel Cone Gall Aphid can reproduce asexually, creating many genetic copies of themselves, which helps their colonies grow fast.
Ability
Seasonal Shapeshifter
Witch-Hazel Cone Gall Aphid has different forms (winged/wingless) that help them migrate between host plants throughout the year.
Measurements & details
- Wingspan
- 3-5 mm
- Size
- 1-2 mm
- Lifespan
- 20-30 days
- Flight Speed
- 0.5 km/h
- Leg Count
- 6
- Colony Size
- 1000
Diet & Feeding
These tiny insects sip sugary sap from witch-hazel and birch trees like drinking a sweet smoothie.
Primary Foods
- Witch-hazel sap
- Birch sap
- Plant phloem
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
depends on
Common Witch-Hazel
Hamamelis virginiana
Provides food and shelter for gall formation.
depends on
Yellow Birch
Betula alleghaniensis
Some generations migrate to birch roots for feeding.
eats
Seven-spotted Ladybug
Coccinella septempunctata
Ladybugs are common predators that feast on aphids.
symbiotic with
Pallid Ant
Formica pallidefulva
Ants protect aphids for their sweet honeydew secretions.
Traits
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Arboreal
Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Pollinator
Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.
Also known as
Cone Gall AphidGall AphidWitch-Hazel Aphid
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Witch-Hazel Cone Gall Aphid's wingspan?
3-5 mm
How big is Witch-Hazel Cone Gall Aphid?
1-2 mm
How long does Witch-Hazel Cone Gall Aphid live?
20-30 days
How fast can Witch-Hazel Cone Gall Aphid fly?
0.5 km/h
What does Witch-Hazel Cone Gall Aphid eat?
These tiny insects sip sugary sap from witch-hazel and birch trees like drinking a sweet smoothie.
Where is Witch-Hazel Cone Gall Aphid usually found?
Witch-hazel trees in forests and gardens.
How does Witch-Hazel Cone Gall Aphid hunt?
Foraging
How many legs does Witch-Hazel Cone Gall Aphid have?
6
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