Pineus similis (Gillette)

Anholocyclic, living without host alternation on a wide range of Picea spp. in North America (abies, glauca, engelmanni, mariana, pungens, rubens), and introduced into Britain where it also colonises Picea sitchensis (Carter 1975). ... Pseudofundatrices (not true fundatrices, because they hatch from unfertilised eggs) overwinter in the second or third instar under bud scales.

[GALLS]
[F]eeding [by pseudofundatrices] in spring causes rather loose galls 1-4 cm long, with the constituent needles much paler than the normal new growth ... As the gall matures the shoot and needles become brown and twisted giving it a ragged appearance.

Uniquely, both alate and apterous gallicolae are produced in the galls. Apterous gallicolae oviposit within the galls, but apterae may also be found outside the galls, laying eggs in small tufts of wax on the stem. Alate gallicolae, 1.0-2.1 mm and dark reddish-brown, fly in June-July to recolonise spruce needles, laying eggs in white wax wool. These apparently develop into the overwintering pseudofundatrix generation ...

GALL
O[n] the ends of [the] shoot the needle bases are shortened and curved, explaining the American name “ragged spruce gall adelgid”. Contrary to Adelges the thickened needle bases are not fused. The aphids are dark reddish-brown.

HOSTPLANTS
Picea sitchensis.

In North America on several more Picea species.

[click below for photo]