The elusive giant willow aphid goes into hiding in spring. Now the Royal Horticultural Society wants volunteers to help find out why
A giant willow aphid at Blashford Lakes, Hampshire.Gardeners have been urged by scientists to help find a mysterious bug which disappears in spring and reappears at the end of summer.
At close to 6mm long with a distinctive shark-like fin, it is one of the UK’s largest aphid species, and an RHS team of entomologists is asking gardeners to send pictures if they see it. The team wants to work out why the “mysterious” and “intriguing” garden bug has its fin, and discover more about its lifecycle as well as which plants may host it.
In May 2022, colonies were found on a quince tree in Hertfordshire, a new host for this aphid. They had previously mainly been found on willow and occasionally on other trees including apple and poplar. Dr Andrew Salisbury, RHS principal entomologist, said: “The sighting of giant willow aphids on quince, a previously unrecorded host, at a time of year when they are rarely seen, only raises more questions about this fascinating and sometimes elusive aphid.
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