Pineus (Pineus) similis (Gillette, 1907)

Albrecht, Anders Christian, 2017, Illustrated identification guide to the Nordic aphids feeding on Conifers (Pinophyta) (Insecta, Hemiptera, Sternorhyncha, Aphidomorpha), European Journal of Taxonomy 338, pp. 1-160 : 6-7

Pineus (Pineus) similis (Gillette, 1907)

Diagnosis

In or near galls on shoots. Both apterous (uniquely) and al. gallicolae produced. Al. gallicolae 1–2 mm, dark reddish brown.Anholocyclic, monoecious on a wide range of Picea species. In North America Picea abies , glauca , engelmanni, mariana , pungens , rubens; in Britain colonising P. sitchensis ( Carter 1976) . Pseudofundatrices overwinter in the second or third instar under bud scales. In spring they cause rather loose galls 1–4 cm long, with the constituent needles much paler than the normal new growth. As the gall matures the shoot and needles become brown and twisted giving it a ragged appearance. Apterous gallicolae oviposit within the galls, but may also be found outside the galls, laying eggs in small tufts of wax on the stem. Al. gallicolae, 1.0– 2.1 mm, dark reddish-brown, fly in June–July to recolonise spruce needles, laying eggs in white wax wool. These apparently develop into the overwintering pseudofundatrix generation. Diagnosis based on Blackman & Eastop (2006).

Recorded hosts (in Britain)

Pinaceae : Picea sitchensis .

Distribution

North America, introduced to Europe (Britain).