How do woolly aphid populations typically increase rapidly during the growing season?

Answer

Females give birth to live nymphs via viviparous reproduction without mating.

During the active growing season, woolly aphids primarily reproduce asexually through a process known as viviparous reproduction. In this strategy, the female aphids give birth directly to live nymphs that are already fully formed, bypassing the need for fertilization by males or the vulnerable egg stage. This method allows for exponential population growth when environmental conditions are favorable, leading to rapid development of large, visible colonies across the host plant.

How do woolly aphid populations typically increase rapidly during the growing season?
plantinsectpestAphidwoolly aphid