Scorias spongiosa

The talented and uniquely entertaining Beech Blight Aphids (Grylloprociphilus imbricator) are taking the stage in Ohio. Some of the best line dancing can be seen in Johnson Woods State Nature Preserve in Wayne County, OH. Jim Chatfield (OSU Extension Emeritus) and I observed chorus lines of beech blight aphids shaking their derrieres on their namesake host in the Preserve last week.

I was surprised over the weekend to come across a horde of Beech Bligh Aphid (Grylloprociphilus imbricator) nymphs on their namesake host in southwest Ohio. This aphid spends the winter in the egg stage and I had assumed they had completed their seasonal development.

I believe no other insect upstages Beech Bligh Aphids in entertainment value. During a visit to a Lake County, OH, park last Thursday, Jim Chatfield and I came across a cluster of these engaging aphids shaking their woolly derrieres in what appeared to be a synchronous samba. All we needed was "(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty" by KC and the Sunshine Band blaring in the background to complete the effect.