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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » Plant-parasitic Hemipterans (Sternorrhyncha) » Aphidoidea » Aphids (Aphididae) » Witch Hazel Gall Aphids and Palm Aphids (Hormaphidinae) » Hamamelistes » Spiny Witch Hazel Gall Aphid (Hamamelistes spinosus)
Photo#1073970
Aphids/Scales, Ants, and Parasitic Wasp - Hamamelistes spinosus
Copyright © 2015 Aaron Eckley

Aphids/Scales, Ants, and Parasitic Wasp - Hamamelistes spinosus
Marion, Linn County, Iowa, USA
May 27, 2015
I found what appeared to be aphids or scales with the uninvited ladybugs feasting on them on my river birch, only to be chased away by ants tending the larval insects. I know ants/aphids have a symbiotic relationship, but have only encountered this one other time. What was also intriguing was that there were wasps flying near the aphids/scales. Could these be parasitoids? It amazed me how populated the birch tree was. I found many different types of insects on it.

Pictured is an ant tending the larval insects.
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Contributed by Aaron Eckley on 27 May, 2015 - 5:44pm
Last updated 27 July, 2015 - 6:05pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Charley Eiseman, 27 July, 2015 - 6:05pm login or register to post comments

Hamamelistes spinosus
This is the alternate generation of the spiny witch hazel gall aphid. The wasps could well have been aphid parasitoids.
… Charley Eiseman, 27 May, 2015 - 6:00pm login or register to post comments

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