Eastern Spruce Gall Adelgid

Exposed, over-wintering nymphs of the Eastern spruce gall adelgid that are settled at the base of buds (UMass Entomology teaching collection).
A newly forming gall of the Eastern spruce gall adelgid at the base of a new shoot, in the spring. (Photo: R. Childs)
Old, dried galls of the Eastern spruce gall adelgid. Note how the entire shoot growth was killed by this pest. (Photo: R. Childs)
Immatures of the Eastern spruce gall adelgid that have emerged from the gall and are now settled on the stem for the fall and winter. (Photo: R. Childs)
A smaller gall, of little significance, that is caused by a midge (fly) and which is commonly also found on some of the same host plants as the Eastern spruce gall adelgid. (Photo: R. Childs)
Many dead tips on a spruce tree that were caused by the attack of the Eastern spruce gall adelgid over the course of several years. (Photo: R. Childs)
A gall of the Eastern spruce gall adelgid that has been cut open to reveal the chambers and immature adelgids within. Lengthwise, this gall is about 3/4". Note that many tiny adelgids occupy each chamber. (UMass Entomology teaching collection).

Pest: Eastern Spruce Gall Adelgid (Adelges abietis (Linnaeus))

Order: Homoptera

Family: Adelgidae

Host Plants:

Primarily Norway spruce (Picea abies) and White spruce (P. glauca), others

Description:

The Eastern spruce gall adelgid causes galls to form at the base of the new shoots, in the spring. These galls will be about 3/4" in total length and be pineapple-shaped. By autumn, these galls are brown and the shoot growth beyond them is dead. In heavy infestations, or after years of repeated infestation, the host tree will have the appearance of dying from the perimeter inward. Extended infestations can greatly weaken the host to a point where secondary attackers (insects and diseases) can then successfully colonize and perhaps even kill the host. In Christmas tree plantations, this pest can render trees unfit for sale. Another gall, that is sometimes found on the same host plants as the Eastern spruce gall adelgid, is caused by a midge (a small type of fly). This midge gall (Mayetiola piceae Felt) is usually of little importance.

Life Cycle:

Over-wintering immature females can be found at the base of the buds on the host plant. In the early spring, they resume development and produce eggs about the time of budbreak. These eggs hatch in about ten days and the immatures begin to feed on the new needles. This feeding stimulates gall formation, which surrounds the nymphs. New galls will almost appear to be normal green growth but only close inspection, at this time will reveal the abnormality. By late August, these galls will dry, crack open and the immature adelgids will emerge and mature into winged, egg-laying females. The eggs, usually found on the needles, will hatch in late summer and the nymphs will settle down at the base of the new buds on healthy shoots.

Management Strategies:

Galls dry and open between 2000 and 3000 GDD which is approximately late August into October, in Massachusetts. Mostly, this occurs closer to the beginning than to the end of this specific GDD spectrum. Applications of horticultural oil sprays are extremely effective in managing this pest prior to gall formation. They can be administered either in the late summer or in the early spring before budbreak and whenever the correct weather conditions prevail. Once galls have started to form there is virtually no management strategy. Pruning or shearing of the branches, at a level that removes the galls, usually requires the removal of too much foliage.

Written by: Robert Childs
Revised: 10/2011