Mutant Aphids!!!

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Bilbo675, Jun 30, 2014.

  1. Bilbo675

    Bilbo675 Total Gardener

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    Today I stumbled on what can only be described as 'mini-me's' of the queen alien in the Alien films :snork:, these things were huge, colossal in fact in relation to your normal common or garden aphids. I'm talking 1/4inch long, easily!!! :hate-shocked:, some were winged, others dragging large swollen abdomen around giving birth (hence the comparison to the Alien).

    They were black/grey in colour with black spots similar to the ones in the link below, anyone know of any large aphids native to Britain or have I stumbled across an intruder from other shores?

    http://citybugs.tamu.edu/2012/04/20/giant-bark-aphids/

    These were on the branches of my Nordman Fir tree by the way, crowded around the bare bark, not on the growth. In hind sight I should have taken a photo but I removed them asap :paladin: :biggrin:
     
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    • Jenny namaste

      Jenny namaste Total Gardener

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      :eeew: they are horrible Bilbo. I started scratching as I was reading your link. Where on earth did you find them? Never heard of them before...:sofa:
      Jenny
       
    • Phil A

      Phil A Guest

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      Cor :):):)

      [​IMG] Sorry, haven't got an Alien smiley.
       
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      • Bilbo675

        Bilbo675 Total Gardener

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        I was a little shocked at the size of the little beasties Jenny, the ones in the link are from an American site but these that I found were almost identical in look and definitely the size described!!! :runforhills::biggrin:
         
      • joolz68

        joolz68 Total Gardener

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        • Bilbo675

          Bilbo675 Total Gardener

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          Thanks for that Joolz, but no, none of them really resemble the wee beasties I found :scratch::biggrin:

          I'll try and find some tomorrow and get a photo :blue thumb:
           
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