Cannabis Aphid: Info & IPM

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BH

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Cannabis Aphid





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Cannabis aphid (Phorodon cannabis) is found on the leaves and stems of Cannabis. It is a light colored species and forms found indoors and forms found outdoors early in the season are cream- colored to pale yellow. Late in the season, as shortened day length triggers changes in the insect, forms that range from light green, to pale pink, to light brown predominate. This insect, only newly recognized from North America, is widespread in Colorado and known to occur in several other states and parts of Canada.
Both wingless and winged forms occur. Some dark spotting occurs on winged forms. Wingless forms lack this patterning but may have pale striping running along the top of the body.

Cannabis aphid feeds on fluids of the plant phloem, which it extracts through its "piercing-sucking" mouthparts. Very little, if any, injury occurs to cells from this feeding, so there are no symptoms on leaves of white flecking or surface scarring, such as is produced by spider mites or thrips.
Insects/Mites that Feed on Hemp – Fluid Feeders
Wingless forms of cannabis aphid.
Damage is caused by the loss of plant fluids. When high numbers of aphids are present and sustained this can cause reductions in plant vigor that can result in slowed growth, wilting, and leaf yellowing.
As cannabis aphids feed, they also continuously excrete a sticky fluid, known as honeydew. This is produced in the form of tiny droplets which drop onto leaf surfaces below where it can be noticed as small shiny spots. This excreted honeydew can be an excellent diagnostic sign for detecting cannabis aphid infestations.

As cannabis aphids grow they must periodically shed their external "skin" (exoskeleton) and as they produce a new and larger exoskeleton for the next, larger life stage. These "cast skins" will collect around colonies of aphids and often drop onto leaves below an aphid colony. Along with honeydew, the cast skins can be an excellent diagnostic sign for detecting cannabis aphid infestations.
Cannabis aphid normally reproduces
asexually - only females are present and
they hatch their eggs internally giving live
birth to genetically identical daughter
aphids. As aphids feed and develop, they
will periodically molt, discarding their old
exoskeleton (cast skin) while growing into a new, larger one. The ultimate adult form is normally wingless, but some are winged and winged stages may be particularly common to see in late summer.
Biology of cannabis aphid is very little studied. Presumably it is fairly typical of most other aphids, which can become mature adults within a couple of weeks or so after birth. (Development is always strongly related to
temperature.) Adult females may give
birth to perhaps 1-5 young per day for their remaining life, which likely will normally be short, perhaps a 3-4 week maximum. Where natural enemies are present, aphid survival will average a much shorter period.

Outdoors a change in the life cycle occurs
in late summer/early autumn, triggered by
declining day length. At this time of year
different forms of the aphid are produced,
including winged males and a different
female form (oviparae). Mating occurs at
this time and the female then lays eggs on
leaves, flowers and stems. This is the only
time of the year externally laid eggs are present, which are placed on the plant. At all other times of the year all-female aphids are present that hatch their eggs inside their body and give live birth to genetically identical daughters."



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A new pest species for cannabis has been detected.
Phorodon cannabis, known as the cannabis aphid, bhang aphid, or hemp aphid, feeds on cannabis. It is only known from two locations in Oregon (Portland and Estacada) at this time, but it is very likely that it is established and unrecognized at other facilities. The pest is established in much of Europe and Asia, North Africa, and it is known from Colorado in North America. It appears to be a recent arrival in Oregon, and it is in the interest of all growers of cannabis to slow its spread.
Pest Status
Cannabis aphid can stress plants, resulting in wilting and yellowing, and it can cause significant plant damage in some situations. The pest is a potential vector of viruses and other plant pathogens. There is some evidence that it may react differently to control programs compared to other aphid species. If you have this aphid, we recommend that you do not distribute infested plants.
Identification
Aphids have six legs, long antennae, a long sucking mouthpart, a bulbous soft body, and most notably, the species typically found on cannabis have two fairly long cornicles (see Other Common Pest Aphids). Typically, you will see wingless forms on plants, but aphids do produce winged forms.
Cannabis aphid varies from yellow to light green and usually has three green stripes that run the length of its body (Figure 1). The stripes can be difficult to see.
Look for two finger or horn-like extensions at the base of the antennae (Figure 2). If present, the pest is either cannabis or hop aphid. These structures should be visible with a 10x hand lens and good light.
Differentiating cannabis aphid from hop aphid (Phorodon humuli) is difficult. The hairs on the head, thorax, and basal antennal segments of cannabis aphid are swollen at the tip (Figure 3) while hop aphid’s are not. A microscope is required to see this character.
Hop aphid is established in Oregon but has not been observed on cannabis. Unlike cannabis aphid, hop aphid overwinters on Prunus (plums, cherries, peaches, etc.) and returns to summer hosts such as hops in the spring.
Figure 1. Hop aphid is very similar to cannabis aphid. Green stripes are often faint and difficult to see.

Life cycle and appearance of the Cannabis aphid​

Adult cannabis aphids are between 1.8–2.7 mm long. They are normally wingless but a winged form appears in late summer. Early in the season, the aphids are nearly colourless to pale yellow, and as the days become shorter, they change to light green or brown with dark green stripes running the length of the body. The winged forms have a dark head and thorax. Cannabis aphids have long antennae (1.1–2.2 mm) and between these are two short knobs (antennal tubercles). Their cornicles (the pair of small, upright, backward-pointing tubes on the aphid's rear end) are white and almost ⅓ the insect’s body length.
Phorodon cannabis usually reproduce asexually; females are essentially born pregnant and give birth to live, genetically identical offspring. Newborn nymphs will typically reach maturity within a couple of weeks, and adults live up to a month.
Outdoors, as the days shorten in late summer/early autumn, winged males and sexually-reproducing females are produced. After mating, the female lays her eggs on leaves, flowers and stems to overwinter and produce the next generation of aphids in the spring. In greenhouses, sexual reproduction is very rare and only triggered if lighting signals a shortening day.

Damage symptoms​

The cannabis aphid is a sap sucker, like all aphids, and affected plants are damaged by the loss of this vital fluid. The following damage symptoms may be observed when plants are infested with Phorodon cannabis:
  • Excess sap is excreted on leaves and flowers as a sticky “honeydew” which promotes the growth of black fungal moulds.
  • White skin moults visible on the leaves.
  • Live aphids may be present in visible colonies; aphids often settle inside buds to feed.
  • Slowed plant growth; wilted, yellowing leaves.
  • Transmission of viral disease between plants, specifically: hemp streak virus, hemp mosaic virus, hemp leaf chlorosis virus, cucumber mosaic virus, hemp mottle virus and alfalfa mosaic virus."
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IPM, since new lacking a cemented defense. ill figure it out!
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Cultural Techniques

Rotating and tilling fields to eliminate seedlings and inspecting/pretreating indoor grown transplants can reduce survival through winter as a dormant egg that requires a nearby hemp seedling at egg hatch.

Organic Insecticides

Insecticides registered in hemp are limited. Some formulations of azadiractin, the active ingredient in neem oil, have been reported as potential agents for the control of aphids on hemp, and some of the current federally registered pesticides contain azadiractin.

Biological Control

Several types of beneficial insects have been reported as effective against aphids on hemp. The parasitoid braconid wasps (Atanycolus spp.) lay eggs inside the adult aphid killing them and turning into a “mummy” aphid. The convergent lady beetle (Hippodamia convergens) and the green lacewing (Chrysopa spp.) feed on the aphids helping to control the population. The green lacewing also eats the aphids honeydew helping to reduce disease. These predators occur naturally in North Carolina, and can often be found where aphids have established, and purchasing additional predators may not be necessary or cost effective."
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