Carya-parasite
Guides
Phylloxera caryaefoliae
pecan leaf phylloxera
Phylloxera caryaefoliae is a tiny, soft-bodied, gall-forming insect closely related to aphids that infests pecan trees. It produces conspicuous galls exclusively on leaf tissue, distinguishing it from the more damaging pecan phylloxera (P. devastatrix) which attacks shoots and nuts. While extensive infestations may cause some defoliation, this species is generally less economically significant than shoot-attacking phylloxerans. The insect has a complex life cycle involving multiple generations and both winged and wingless forms.