Warm fall days prompt swarms of winged aphids to take flight, searching for mates and suitable egg-laying spots.
Aphids undergo significant stages in their life cycle.
Some reproduce asexually or give birth to live offspring capable of reproduction within two weeks. A female aphid can lay up to 100 eggs, usually deposited on plants, hatching in spring or summer, starting a new cycle.
During swarming, migrating females move from fir tree roots to ash trees, laying eggs. Some seek mates during this period. Aphids often reproduce parthenogenetically for rapid reproduction.
However, in the fall, sexual reproduction occurs, with winged males and females mating on host plants.
After mating, females lay eggs capable of surviving winter, ensuring the next generation.
Not all aphid species have winged forms; mating and wing presence depend on environmental factors and specific species
Tags: Swarms of Aphids in Vernon and the Okanagan
Comments