Aphid damage on spruce

[radhatter]

Discovered an active aphid infestation happening on my spruce. They were going only after the older growth even though there was new growth everywhere which surprised me. I sprayed them down with soapy water and am trying a systemic insecticide but I’m wondering if anyone knows if the tree will recover from the aphid damage yellowing the needles. Some are likely too far gone but it seems like there is a lot of needles with yellow spots. Any other suggestions on how to deal with these damn things?

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Wrap soms flypaper around the trunk to stop the ants from farming them.
Then apply insecticides with aphids listed on the label.
One treatment like this should be enough. But damaged foliage will not recover on conifers. It will drop on its own when it served its purpose.

 

[Sansokuu]

I dont have suggestions but the warm winter might have been the culprit. Apparently a warm winter didnt keep a species of spruce aphid in check this year and they have been causing significant damage in the pnw. https://www.opb.org/article/2025/07...phids are tiny, green,visible in May and June.

 

[radhatter]

Ooof, ya that may be part of it. I’ll be treating this tree preventatively every year from now on. Thankfully it only affected my engelmann and not any of the others (of which I have many)