Growth on Aspen - Ask Extension
I found these growths on my young Aspen tree (pic attached). The tree is about 4 years old, and other than these mysterious green things seems to be...
Knowledgebase
Growth on Aspen #872352
Asked June 10, 2024, 8:17 AM EDT
I found these growths on my young Aspen tree (pic attached). The tree is about 4 years old, and other than these mysterious green things seems to be growing well and very happy. Are these galls from mites? Is there something I need to do to protect the tree? Thank you!
Livingston County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello Jessa -
I looked over the common types of diseases for Aspen and saw nothing that looked like your galls. https://csfs.colostate.edu/forest-management/common-forest-insects-diseases/common-insects-diseases-of-aspen/
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/insect-and-mite-galls-5-577/
I did find something that looked like your leaves, but it was peach leaf curl: https://sites.udel.edu/planthealth/tag/peaches/
Now a question for you - could you open up that leaf and see what's inside? Take a picture and send it back to me and maybe I can do a better job of identifying what is troubling your aspen.
Perhaps the best idea is to cut off that leaf and send it to the MSU lab. Here is the link for that. https://www.canr.msu.edu/pestid/submit-samples/.
I hope we can help you with this problem!
I looked over the common types of diseases for Aspen and saw nothing that looked like your galls. https://csfs.colostate.edu/forest-management/common-forest-insects-diseases/common-insects-diseases-of-aspen/
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/insect-and-mite-galls-5-577/
I did find something that looked like your leaves, but it was peach leaf curl: https://sites.udel.edu/planthealth/tag/peaches/
Now a question for you - could you open up that leaf and see what's inside? Take a picture and send it back to me and maybe I can do a better job of identifying what is troubling your aspen.
Perhaps the best idea is to cut off that leaf and send it to the MSU lab. Here is the link for that. https://www.canr.msu.edu/pestid/submit-samples/.
I hope we can help you with this problem!
Hi again, Jessa -
I got some help from a colleague. Here is more information for you. I think she nailed it. ;-)
What you have there are some Poplar vagabond aphids. Check out the photo, here: https://www.ipmimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5445374
These aphids will not kill the tree, but this link will explain their life cycle and how/when to prune the tree to minimize future damage: https://forestrynews.blogs.govdelivery.com/2017/07/27/poplar-vagabond-aphid/#:~:text=Galls%20caused%20by%20poplar%20vagabond,the%20aphids%20can%20live%20inside.
I got some help from a colleague. Here is more information for you. I think she nailed it. ;-)
What you have there are some Poplar vagabond aphids. Check out the photo, here: https://www.ipmimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5445374
These aphids will not kill the tree, but this link will explain their life cycle and how/when to prune the tree to minimize future damage: https://forestrynews.blogs.govdelivery.com/2017/07/27/poplar-vagabond-aphid/#:~:text=Galls%20caused%20by%20poplar%20vagabond,the%20aphids%20can%20live%20inside.
Yes I think that’s it! Thanks so much for your help!
From: ask=<personal data hidden> <ask=<personal data hidden>> on behalf of Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>>
Date: Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at 2:14 AM
To: Jessa Love <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: Growth on Aspen (#0142270)
