Today in the orchard
Today I found a really bizarre creature in the orchard, if it was a creature. Whatever it was, it looked like a horrible disease or maybe something that had descended upon us from outer space. It occurred to me that it might be a huge colony of woolly apple aphids (Eriosoma lanigerum). Woolly apple aphids look like fluffy cotton, and they surround the thin stems or trunks of apple trees. Over the years I’ve found them on our trees—in particular the young nursery trees—but never like this massive bunch which was about a foot long. I still remember the first time I ever encountered them (decades ago). I panicked and tore out several nursery trees and burned them, only to find out from an experienced orchard friend that they were nothing to worry about them. (Haste makes waste?) They’re not monsters, just weird. I hadn’t noticed any in the nursery or orchard in as long as I can remember.
This colony of woolly aphids (if that’s what they are) was on the orchard edge in an Alder tree. (Alnus incana) . That suggests that it likely is Woolly Alder Aphid (Prociphilus tessellatus), which is very closely related to the apple version. (family Aphididae, subfamily Eriosomatinae) Wow. Very impressive. They are just another crazy inhabitant of the amazing plant world that feeds us, clothes us, houses us and propels us. Welcome to our orchard!