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Carrot-willow aphid
Carrot-Willow Aphid
A carrot-willow aphid
Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Sternorrhyncha
Superfamily: Aphidoidea
Genus: Cavariella
Species: Cavariella aegopodii
Synonyms
Aphis aegopodii Scopoli, (1763)

The carrot willow aphid (Cavariella aegopodii) is a widespread pest of carrots, celery, parsnips and parsley.

Carrot Willow aphids can cause significant damage to plants by their feeding activities as they suck sap from the foliage. In addition they are responsible for transmitting a number of viruses including carrot red leaf virus and carrot mottle virus which together form the carrot motley dwarf complex, cucumber mosaic virus, parsnip mosaic virus and parsnip yellow fleck virus. These viruses all reduce the vigour of the crop. The aphid overwinters mainly on its woody host, species of willow. Eggs laid on willow hatch in the spring and winged forms migrate to carrot crops in late May/early June. The aphids build up rapidly in late June/early July after which the population starts to decline.

Identifying Features[]

Distorted leaves: leaves are discoloured and stunted. Plants are weakened.

Treatment[]

Spray at the first signs of attack with insecticidal soap.

Prevention[]

No practical method available.

References[]

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