Woolly Apple Aphid Busters Quiz Quiz

Explore medium-level knowledge about managing woolly apple aphids in apple orchards, covering identification, intervention strategies, and pest impact. Enhance your understanding of sustainable pest control in horticulture.

1. Woolly Apple Aphid Identification

   Which visible sign is most characteristic for identifying a woolly apple aphid infestation on apple trees?

   1. Chewed leaves with brown edges
   2. Cottony white masses on branches and roots
   3. Shiny black fungal growth on fruit
   4. Holes in fruit skin

   Explanation: Woolly apple aphids create cottony, white clusters on apple tree branches and sometimes on roots, making this their most distinguishing feature. Chewed leaves and holes in fruit are more typical of other pests, like caterpillars. Shiny black fungal growth is usually sooty mold, not directly associated with aphid presence.

2. Biological Control of Aphids

   Which natural predator is often introduced into orchards to help control woolly apple aphid populations?

   1. Japanese beetles
   2. Aphelinus mali wasp
   3. Green lacewing larvae
   4. Spider mites

   Explanation: Aphelinus mali is a parasitic wasp specifically effective against woolly apple aphids. While green lacewing larvae eat many soft-bodied insects, they're less targeted. Spider mites are themselves pests, and Japanese beetles do not prey on aphids.

3. Pesticide Considerations

   Why do chemical insecticides usually have limited effectiveness against woolly apple aphids on apple trees?

   1. Aphids only feed at night
   2. Insecticides encourage aphid reproduction
   3. Woolly apple aphids are unaffected by all chemicals
   4. Aphids are protected by waxy filaments

   Explanation: The woolly, wax-covered filaments produced by these aphids act as a barrier, reducing insecticide contact and effectiveness. They feed during the day and night. Not all chemicals are ineffective; rather, the wax barrier is the main challenge. Insecticides do not increase reproduction.

4. Rootstock Resistance

   Using which approach can help reduce woolly apple aphid infestations before they start in an orchard?

   1. Removing all fallen leaves weekly
   2. Increasing tree watering schedules
   3. Planting aphid-resistant rootstocks
   4. Spraying with baking soda

   Explanation: Certain apple rootstocks are naturally resistant to woolly apple aphid infestation, reducing pest issues from the start. Baking soda sprays and increased watering are not proven controls for this pest, and removing fallen leaves does not specifically target root or branch aphids.

5. Economic Impact of Infestation

   What is a primary economic concern when woolly apple aphids infest an apple orchard?

   1. Immediate fruit drop before ripening
   2. Sunburn on exposed fruit
   3. Reduced tree vigor and decline of root systems
   4. Attraction of deer to the orchard

   Explanation: Woolly apple aphid feeding can weaken trees by damaging their roots and branches, decreasing overall tree vitality. They do not directly cause fruit drop or sunburn, and their presence does not attract deer.