Grylloprociphilus imbricator

Beware of Stiletto-Brandishing Boogie-Woogie Aphids boggs.47@osu.edu Thu, 10/09/2025 - 17:32
Beech Blight Aphids have a horrible-sounding common name; however, they cause little to no damage to the overall health of infested American beech trees, which is their primary host. On the other hand, don't put your hand in a colony because they will attack and stab you!
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Authors
Joe Boggs

Beech Blight Aphids Got Talent

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.
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Authors
Joe Boggs

Beech Blight Aphids are Jitterbugging Across Ohio

The uniquely entertaining Beech Blight Aphids (Grylloprociphilus imbricator) are taking the stage in Ohio. I’ve received several e-mail messages from across the state about the aphids and Brian Heinz (Horticulture Manager, Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum) alerted me to chorus lines shaking their derrieres on their namesake host in southwest Ohio
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Authors
Joe Boggs
Boogie-Woogie Aphids are Still Dancing boggs.47@osu.edu Mon, 11/04/2019 - 13:53
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.
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Authors
Joe Boggs
White-Haired Alders and Meat-Eating Caterpillars boggs.47@osu.edu Mon, 10/14/2019 - 11:09
Woolly Alder Aphids produce large, white fluffy colonies on the branches of their namesake host making the branches look like they're covered in patches of white hair. A close look will reveal woolly aphid nymphs exuding strands of white waxy filaments from block-like structures on their backs.
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Authors
Joe Boggs

Beech Blight Aphids Shake Their Booty

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.
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Authors
Joe Boggs
Jim Chatfield