Hamamelistes spinosus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hamamelistes spinosus | |
|---|---|
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| Hamamelistes spinosus gall on a Witch Hazel | |
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| Hamamelistes spinosus gall on a birch | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Suborder: | Sternorrhyncha |
| Family: | Aphididae |
| Genus: | Hamamelistes |
| Species: | H. spinosus |
| Binomial name | |
| Hamamelistes spinosus Shimer, 1867 | |
Hamamelistes spinosus, also known as the spiny witch-hazel gall aphid, is a species of aphid that creates galls on witch hazel and birch species. Its eggs are laid on Witch Hazel in galls, where they overwinter and hatch in spring. They manipulate and live in leaves on birch, with nymphs eating leaves then overwintering on stems. Their life cycles tend to last around 2 years.[1] They create galls by feeding on leaf buds in a way that forms them to support their young.[2]
Hamamelistes spinosus is found across North America, from Mexico to Canada.[1]
