Cinara pilicornis, the spruce shoot aphidEgg distribution and survival of Cinara pilicornis (Hartig) (Hom., Lachnidae) on damaged and undamaged Norway spruce (Picea abies) (L.) Karst. Stadler B, Journal of applied entomology, 1997, vol. 121, no 2, pages 71-75, or brown spruce shoot aphid, is an aphid species in the genus Cinara found on Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis).An Entomophthora Species on Cinara pilicornis (Hartig) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). T. L. Edwards, The Irish Naturalists' Journal, Jan. 1981, Vol. 20, No. 5, pages 204-206 (jstor) It is a quite large aphid species with a plump, dull brown body. It seems to have little effect on the tree. It is a European species but it has also been reported in spruce forests in New Zealand, together with the spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum).Spruce Aphid (Elatobium abietinum) in New Zealand. Forest and Timber Insects in New Zealand No. 54 (article)
Cinara pilicornis, which is attended by the honeydew-collecting ants Formica polyctena,Ant-mediated effects on spruce litter decomposition, solution chemistry, and microbial activity. Stadler et al., Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 2006, 38, pages 561-572 () is seldom attacked by the parasitoid wasp Pauesia pini.Foraging behaviour and resource utilization of the aphid parasitoid, Pauesia pini (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) on spruce: Influence of host species and ant attendance. Völkl W and Novak H, Eur. J. Entomol., 1997, 94(2), pages 211-220 (abstract) It is also a host for Entomophthora fungi.
Cinara pilicornis produces the trisaccharide melezitose. Citronellol, cis–trans-nepetalactone and cis–trans-nepetalactol are stress-induced compounds released by the host plant. These compounds originated from the aphids and they are assumed to be pheromone components for this aphid species.Semiochemicals related to the aphid Cinara pilicornis and its host, Picea abies: A method to assign nepetalactone diastereomers. Marie Pettersson, C. Rikard Unelius, Irena Valterová and Anna-Karin Borg-Karlson, Journal of Chromatography A, 8 February 2008, Volume 1180, Issues 1–2, Pages 165–170,
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