Definition

Noun: * A variety of adelgid: A specific species of small, sap-sucking insect belonging to the family Adelgidae, known for infesting and damaging spruce trees (particularly Picea species).

Usage

• This term is a scientific name (binomial nomenclature) used in entomology and forestry. It is typically used in formal, academic, or technical contexts to refer to this specific insect pest.
• It functions as a singular noun. The plural form is "Adelges piceae" (following the convention for scientific names) or more commonly "adelgids" when referring to the insects generally.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The forester identified the cause of the spruce decline as an infestation of Adelges piceae.
  • A study was conducted on the life cycle of Adelges piceae.
  • The presence of Adelges piceae can be detected by the white, woolly wax it secretes.

Advanced Usage

• In scientific writing, the genus name () is often abbreviated to a single letter after its first full use in a text (e.g., ).
• The common name for is the spruce aphid or spruce gall adelgid, which is preferred in non-technical communication.

Variants and Related Words

• Adelgid (n): The common name for insects in the family Adelgidae.
• Adelges (n): The genus name for a group of adelgid species.
• Piceae: The specific epithet, derived from , the genus of spruce trees, indicating its host plant.

Synonyms

• Spruce aphid
• Spruce gall adelgid

Related Terms and Context

• Host plant: Spruce tree ( spp.)
• Pest: A term describing its role in agriculture and forestry.
• Hemiptera: The insect order to which adelgids belong.
• Gall: A growth on plants often induced by insects like adelgids. can cause galls on spruce.

Noun

1. a variety of adelgid