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Strawberry Aphid
Common names: Strawberry Aphid Scientific name: Chaetosiphon fragaefolii
Overview
Strawberry aphids are important sap-feeding pests in strawberry production systems and are particularly relevant because of virus transmission risk.
They may occur in:
- protected strawberries
- tabletop systems
- field strawberries
- propagation material
- nursery stock
Crop symptoms
- curled young growth
- distorted leaves
- reduced vigour
- honeydew
- sooty mould
- uneven plant growth
Virus transmission risk may be economically important even at relatively low populations.
Environmental drivers
Pressure often increases during:
- spring flush growth
- warm stable weather
- dense canopy development
- soft nitrogen-rich growth
See: - Spring flush - Plant stress
IPM considerations
Strawberry aphid management should focus heavily on:
- early detection
- propagation hygiene
- virus risk management
- hotspot mapping
- compatible biological control
- winged aphid monitoring
Biological control relevance
Useful biological control may include:
Related BioWiki pages
Use this page alongside
Commonly affected crops
Related Aphid Resources
Similar Species
Rogers' Strawberry Aphid (Chaetosiphon jacobi)
Rogers' Strawberry Aphid is a closely related species occasionally found on cultivated strawberries. It is less frequently reported than the Strawberry Aphid (Chaetosiphon fragaefolii) but may occur in similar habitats and production systems.
The two species are difficult to distinguish without detailed examination and are often treated similarly in practical crop management.
Both species:
- Colonise young leaves and runners
- Feed on plant sap
- Produce honeydew
- Can contribute to the spread of strawberry viruses
- Respond to similar biological control programmes
From a commercial perspective, monitoring and early intervention strategies are generally the same for both species.