First record of Illinoia liriodendri in Germany
In October 2004, Illinoia liriodendri (Homoptera: Aphididae – tuliptree aphid) was detected in Baden-Württemberg on old trees of Liriodendron tulipifera in a public garden. Until now, I. liriodendri was not known to occur in Germany. Attacked trees showed symptoms such as, leaf discoloration, premature defoliation and heavy honeydew. The origin of this infestation remains unknown.
The status of I. liriodendri in Germany is officially declared as follows: Present, one single case.
EPPO note: I. liriodendri is a pest of tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) which occurs in USA (at least in California, Tennessee and probably in other states, but data is lacking). It is also reported as a pest of Magnolia grandiflora. Adults are about 3 mm long. They are pale green to yellow, oval in shape, with two slender cornicles on the back. Immatures are smaller but otherwise similar. Eggs are black and oval. The tuliptree aphid produces large amounts of honeydew which are usually accompanied by sooty mould. Large populations may cause leaf yellowing and premature leaf drop. Pictures can be viewed on Internet (http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=0590071). This species is apparently spreading outside its native range (i.e. North America). In 1999, it was reported for the first time in Japan (Sugitomo, 1999), and in 2001 in several private gardens and parks in Lombardia, Italy (Limonta, 2001). In 2004, United Kingdom also reported for the first time the presence of I. liriodendri on 3 L. tulipifera plants near London.
Sources
NPPO of Germany, 2005-07.
Limonta L. (2001) Heavy infestation of Illinoia liriodendri (Monell) (Rhynchota Aphididae) in gardens in northern Italy. Bollettino di Zoologia Agraria e di Bachicoltura, 33(2), 133-136.
Sugimoto S. (1999) Occurrence of Illinoia liriodendri (Monell) (Homoptera: Aphididae) in Japan. Entomological Science 2(1), 89-91.
INTERNET
DEFRA (UK) website - Plant Health Interception & Outbreak Chart - 11 - 17 January 2004
http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/interc/decjan.pdf
USDA Forest Service - Northeastern Area - Southern Magnolia
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/magnolia/grandiflora.htm