Red Aphids Leaving You Seeing Red?
September 28th, 2009 Posted in Ornamental & Lawn Pests
Throughout the insect world, one of the most prolific species is the aphid. There are over 4000 species of aphids, coming in a virtual rainbow of colors, sizes, and habits.
Red aphids, a common species throughout the U.S., are generally numerous and troublesome.
This article will tell you some things you need to know, including:
What red aphids look like
They’re red.
Their bodies are pear-like in shape and up to 1/8 inch long.
On the abdomen (backside) of the aphids, there are two tubes, called cornicles, that are used to secrete wax.
Because of their diet, their mouths are shaped like long straws.
Eating Habits
Aphids feed on the juices inside plants by piercing the soft tissue of plants with their mouths and drinking the juice out of the plant.
Some species prefer a specific type of plant; red ants like the Silphium perfoliatum, or the cup plant.
When they’re around
Red aphids appear in the spring, sometimes creating large colonies on the end of plants and leaves. Their feeding drains the host plant, sometimes causing the leaves to whither or curl. The wilted leaves can better protect aphids from predators and hide them from sight.
Aphids reproduce using a type of natural cloning, called parthenogenesis, to create young.
A female aphid will copy herself and give birth to live young during the spring and summer. In the fall, she will lay eggs to survive the winter.
What gets rid of them?
Home-remedies:
- Knock aphids off plants with a strong hose spray. Most species won’t make it back onto the plant.
- Use an insecticide soap/water mix to kill them off.
- Trim the infested area of the plant off and throw it away. Since they only lay eggs for overwintering, this will keep them away.
Natural friends and enemies
Some species of ants will farm the aphids honeydew. They will protect the aphids from some natural enemies:
- Ladybug and lacewing larvae will feed on aphids, and they are cheep to buy at gardening shops.
- Certain wasps hunt aphids, but not for food. The parasitic wasps will attack and sting the aphids, simultaneously planting eggs into the aphids.
- The wasp larvae will feed off the inside of the aphid, eventually turning it into a mummy.
The wasp will then emerge fully grown by tearing a hole in the empty shell.
Insecticides
Chemical insecticides include:
- Systemic pesticides (use only on non-edible plants).
- Certain fertilizers will make plants poisonous to aphids. The poison will stay in the plant for up to 6 weeks.
- Dursban and Orthene attack the nervous system of aphids, and are also recommended for ornamental plants only.
If you want a non-chemical insecticide to get rid of them, try EcoSMART’s Garden Insect Killer. These organic pesticides are a great way to get rid of aphid infestations. And to make it even better, the all-natural ingredients make it family and pet safe.
