Witch hazel cone gall aphid

The witch-hazel cone gall aphid (Hormaphis hamamelidis) is a minuscule insect, a member of the aphid superfamily, whose presence on a witch-hazel plant is easily recognizable by a red conical gall structure. This gall, rich in nutrients, provides both food and shelter for the female aphid.

At the start of spring, females or stem mothers crawl to leaf buds. As the leaf grows, the aphid injects it with a substance, possibly an enzyme or hormone, that causes that the galls to form around her. Once inside her gall the stem mother reproduces asexually and fills the gall with 50-70 female offspring. The second generation develops wings and disperses, repeating the process. The third generation includes both males and females. Towards the end of summer, the third generation reproduces sexually and lays eggs on the branches of the witch-hazel. The following spring the cycle begins anew. This cycle allows the aphid to increase its population dramatically in a relatively short period of time.

The aphids feed on the glucose present in the gall. Other common gall forming aphids are the spiny witch-hazel gall aphid and the elm cockscomb gall aphid.