The Spruce Gall Aphid / Cooley Spruce Gall Adelgid is an aphid that attacks alternately between Douglas-fir and Spruce trees, however the damage is the most severe on the immature spruce. The damage to spruce occurs when the aphid penetrates the stem of the new year's growth creating a cone like gall pinkish purple in color at the ends of the branches. As the gall ages and the aphids mature and leave the gall, it becomes brown in color and is stiff and hard. Many mistake these galls for cones due to their appearance. North 53 39.357 West 122 57.469
The latin name for the SpruceGall aphid is Adelges cooleyi.
For more information on the spruce gall aphid a handy field reference guide can be found here:https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/farming-natural-resources-and-industry/forestry/forest-health/forest-health-docs/field_guide_to_forest_damage_in_bc_web.pdf
All hides for this Spruce Geo Art Series are camoed pill bottles or bison tubes. Each container contains a logsheet sealed in a tiny zip lock bag. Please bring your own pencil. This cache is not hidden at the posted coordinates, however all the information you need is on this cache page.
Photo Credit: Spruce Gall Aphid damage image from the Field Guide to Forest Damage in British Columbia - Natural Resources Canada / Canadian Forest Service / Pacific Forestry Center Forest Health Network- Figure 54, page 43.
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