Tag Archives: aphids on Poplar

Aphid: Chaitophorus populeti

03 Thursday Sep 2026

Posted by in insects

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I was looking for leafhoppers on Poplar trees where I’ve found them previously when I spotted these aphids. Though the adults were plain black, the colours and markings of the nymphs looked distinctive, so I decided to take some photos on the off chance I might be able to identify them and, though this has not yet been verified by an expert, I’m fairly sure these are the species Chaitophorus populeti.

This species is also known as the Poplar shoot aphid, not surprisingly because they live on the shoots and young leaves of various species of Poplar trees. As you can see from my photos, these aphids are almost always accompanied by ants; I like to think of the ants as the farmers, the aphids their livestock.

If you’re interested in learning more about this species, the Influential Points website provides detailed information on how to identify them, their biology and life cycle, as well as some stunning, much sharper, close-up images than mine.

Galls: Pemphigus spyrothecae

17 Monday Jul 2023

Posted by in insects, trees

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During our recent wet and windy weather I’ve taken to leaving my good camera at home, going out in wet weather gear with just my point-and-shoot camera tucked in a jacket pocket. As that camera is really only good for macro shots, I’ve been forced to look at things more closely – no bad thing, and, given the frequent heavy showers, I’ve been spending more time than usual sheltering under trees. And that, of course, means I’ve been looking at trunks and branches and leaves, which is how I came to notice these odd swellings on a Poplar tree in a local park. The aphid Pemphigus spyrothecae causes the leaf petiole to twist two or three times, forming a chamber in which the aphid’s larvae can develop. I didn’t open any of the galls but, if you want to see images of what’s inside, and read more about the life cycle of these aphids, the Influential Points website is the place to go.

230717 Pemphigus spyrothecae galls