Early season aphids are not normally a problem in our native pecan groves because we have plenty of beneficial insects to keep them in check. In looking through the foliage, I found a cluster of lady beetle eggs laid on the underside of a pecan leaflet (photo at right). Lady beetle adults respond to the presence of honeydew and lay their eggs in a location where they know that there will be plenty of aphids around to provide food for their larvae.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Yellow pecan aphid
Early season aphids are not normally a problem in our native pecan groves because we have plenty of beneficial insects to keep them in check. In looking through the foliage, I found a cluster of lady beetle eggs laid on the underside of a pecan leaflet (photo at right). Lady beetle adults respond to the presence of honeydew and lay their eggs in a location where they know that there will be plenty of aphids around to provide food for their larvae.