University of Idaho Pest Management Center

*Sugarbeet Root Aphid*
*species:*	Pemphigus populivenae ORDER: Homoptera - sap suckers FAMILY: Aphididae
*identification:*
*nymph & adult*	piercing-sucking mouthparts
*distinguishing characteristics:*	Paired cornicles
damage and symptoms:	suck sap from tap root & fibrous roots above ground symptoms - leaf yellowing & wilting - small circular patches of collapsed plants especially during moisture stress below ground symptoms - aphids produce white waxy material patchy “white mold” on roots & soil - short limp, rubbery taproot w/many root hairs
biology:	Gradual metamorphosis [egg] >nymphs>adult winter: eggs within bark crevices on Populus spp cottonwood + poplar trees early spring: "stem mother" hatches from O/W egg dark-bodied wingless female feeds on emerging leaf leaf gall that encloses aphid live asexual birth to "spring migrants" 75 - 150 offspring over 1-2 months entirely female, winged as adults escape from gall via hole early summer: colonizing flights by "spring migrants" to sugarbeet roots directed + accidental ? worst infestations if soil dry & cracked multiple asexual generations "summer" aphids on sugarbeet root 2 to 3 mm long (< 1/8-inch) pale yellowish-white, dusted w/white powder wingless as nymphs and adults entirely female *late summer to early fall*: "summer aphids" "fall migrants" massive return flights from sugarbeet root to poplar & cottonwood live asexual birth to sexual males & females near-microscopic mouthless (non-feeding) & wingless mating & oviposition single white egg per female in bark crevice some "summer aphids" NO winged fall migrants continuous asexual wingless generations O/W in beet field soil or on weeds in ditches colonize sugarbeets next spring (non-rotated fields)
CONTROL OPTIONS
*strategy:*	minimize initial colonization & establishment slow rate of increase once established
cultural:	field rotation maintain rapid vigorous plant growth early-planting / fertility avoid water stress control weedy hosts lambsquarters & pigweed esp. field borders clean tillage equipment between infested: noninfested fields postharvest fall tillage expose & kill O/W aphids eliminate alternate (winter) hosts cottonwood & poplar
biocontrol:	conserve natural enemies via minimize soil insecticide predatory fly & fungus disease in soil no cost-effective commercial products or agents
conventional insecticides:	no formal field monitoring methods no thresholds light-to-moderate infestations (10%) serious yield loss [CALIFORNIA] terbufos (Counter 20CR) postemergence 0.6 to 1.2 oz ai/1000 row ft 5 to 7-inch band over row, lightly incorporate

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