• Cherry trees may be infested with a number of different aphids.Design Pics/Valueline/Getty Images
  
  Aphids are a varied species of small, pear shaped insects with soft bodies. The insects feed on tender areas of plants and suck out sap with their specialized slender, piercing mouths. Nearly all plants are afflicted with one or more types of aphids. The waxy or woolly insects come in a variety of colors and are usually wingless. A number of aphid species are found on cherry trees; infestations are especially frequent in spring and fall.
  
  

Black Cherry Aphid

• Black cherry aphid (Myzus cerasi) is a large-size aphid with a glossy, black body. The insect overwinters on the twigs and fruit spurs on cherry trees. New eggs start to hatch just prior to bloom time in spring. The insects rapidly progress through multiple generations and assume large populations by spring. Black cherry aphid infestation is more common on younger trees and cause curled and distorted foliage. Attempts to control the insect are most effective during the dormant period of the tree. Employing natural enemies such as lady beetles and lacewings is an effective biological control method.
  
  

Rusty Plum Aphid

• Rusty plum aphid (Hysteroneura setariae 'Thomas') is a common aphid of cherry, peach and plum trees. The insects are rusty brown to dark purple and have white bands on their legs. Like black cherry aphids, rusty plum aphids overwinter in the twigs, laying their eggs in the cracks and crevices. The new insects emerge just before flowering time and start to feed on the undersides of foliage, causing the leaves to curl and disrupting the growth of terminal shoots. The insects produce a sticky, dewlike substance that covers foliage and leads to sooty mildew. Best control options are to use natural predators in the trees and to spray trees with delayed dormant sprays.
  
  

Mealy Plum Aphid

• Mealy plum aphid (Hyalopterus pruni) is another of the aphids that infest cherry trees. The light green to whitish green insects have three dark green stripes on the back. The insects are covered in a white mealy wax and overwinter near the base of buds, hatching close to bloom time. Mealy plum aphids damage causes curled and stunted foliage and reduces the sugar content in the fruit. Insect infestation can be controlled with the introduction of natural predators such as green lacewings, brown lacewings and soldier beetles in the trees. Dormant tree oils effective for mealy plum aphids include diazinon, phosmet and esfenvalerate.