"use pesticides safely read the label" — *Always read and follow label directions for application for all pesticides! (USDA Forest Service-Region 8-Southern, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org)*

If spruce aphid pressure is high in an area, pesticide applications may be an option to consider. Due to several factors, pesticides are usually restricted to use on high-value ornamental trees.

Pesticide applications are effective when applied properly per the label recommendations. Pesticide failures are usually the result of improper timing, inadequate coverage, or poor product mixing.

Several products are available to treat for spruce aphid. As a group, aphids are fairly susceptible to insecticides, and many active ingredients can be used to control them. Application methods vary for different products and include sprays, soil drenches, and stem injections. The table below lists active ingredients and example products that may be used on spruce to control spruce aphid. Spruce aphids, like other aphids, can easily build up resistance to insecticides. If you are planning to use pesticides, make sure to understand the product(s) you choose and follow all label recommendations for limiting resistance build up in aphids.

Table 1: Active ingredients in pesticides registered for spruce aphid control in Alaska with examples of product names and application methods. * The trade names listed here are not an endorsement of these products. They are used as common examples.
Active Ingredient	Common Product(s)*	Application Method(s)
Dinotefuran	Ortho^® Tree and Shrub	Soil drench
	Safari™ 20 SG	Soil drench, foliar spray, soil injection
	Transtect™	Soil drench, soil injection, foliar spray, trunk spray
Imidacloprid	BioAdvanced™ 12 Month Tree and Shrub Insect Control	Soil drench
	Pointer^® Insecticide	Trunk injection
Acephate	Acecap^®Systemic Insecticide Tree Implants	Trunk injection
	Bonide^® Systemic Insect Control	Spray
	Orthene^® Turf, Tree, and Ornamental	Spray, soil injection
Bifenthrin	Talstar^®	Spray
	UP-Star^® Gold	Spray
Abamectin	Avid^®	Spray
	Abacide™ 2	Trunk injection
Azadirachtin	AzaGuard^®	Spray
	AzaSol™	Spray, soil drench, trunk injection
	Ornazin^®	Spray, soil drench, trunk injection

Timing of pesticide applications for spruce aphid can be difficult due to the timing of their damage and environmental conditions required for the use of many pesticide products. Typically, early spring damage occurs when temperatures are too low for spraying, soils are still frozen and cannot be drenched, and trees are dormant and therefore trunk injections cannot be made. If you decide pesticides are warranted for spruce aphid control, it may make sense to treat for possible fall feeding populations using a product that would have residual effects for approximately one year and would still be available for the following late winter/early spring aphid populations.

Chemical options can be applied in a variety of ways as listed in the table above, and some products are more suited to certain situations or application types. Taller trees (generally those greater than 25 feet tall), especially those with previous aphid feeding and crown damage, may benefit more from systemic products applied as soil drenches or injected directly into the tree. These products then travel within the tree to be available in needle tissue. Spray applications may be better suited for medium and smaller trees where reaching the canopy is easier. There are always pros and cons to different application types. Systemic products applied to the soil or injected into the base of the tree may take time to travel through the tree to the needle tissue, while foliar sprays may have limitations on applications near water bodies, flowering plants, or during certain weather conditions. For any product or application type, follow all recommendations on the product label to ensure the most effective and economical application with the least environmental effects.