Sorbus aucuparia as "Thor's protection". In English folklore, twigs of "S. aucuparia" were believed to ward off evil spirits and witches. The plant was called "the witch" in England and dowsing rods to find ores were made out of its wood. Twigs of "S. aucuparia" were used to drive cattle to the pasture for the first time in spring to ensure their health and fertility. The wooden shafts of forks and other farm implements were constructed from "S. aucuparia", to protect farm animals and production from witches' spells. In weather lore, a year with plentiful rowan fruit would have a good grain
Aphis pomi "A. pomi", especially at high temperatures. Besides occurring on apple ("Malus domestica"), "Aphis pomi" infests other plants in the family Rosaceae including pear ("Pyrus communis "), hawthorn ("Crataegus monogyna"), medlar ("Mespilus germanica"), quince ("Cydonia oblonga"), mountain ash ("Sorbus aucuparia"), rose ("Rosa") and spiraea ("Spiraea"). It is an autoecious species, completing its life cycle on a single host species. Overwintering eggs hatch in spring and the aphids colonise the growing tips of the shoots causing the edges of the leaves to curl. These aphids are all viviparous females and give birth to other wingless aphids by parthenogenesis. In June some winged