Organic Insecticides | Organic Pesticides | EcoSMART Bug Spray

Aphid Damage on the Rise?

October 2nd, 2009 Posted in Ornamental & Lawn Pests

As your garden blooms, so does the aphid population.

What are aphids doing to your garden? They are fine in small numbers and dangerous in big crowds. With the ability to produce hundreds of offspring each, small numbers don’t last long.

Large numbers of aphids can cause problems, including:

• Leaf and flower damage
• Disease
• Other insects

Luckily, there are ways to get rid of them before damage worsens.

Leaf and flower damage

Aphids feed off the juice in plants. Their straw-like mouths are stuck into leaves to drink the juice out.

By drinking large amounts of the juice, aphids can cause dehydration in the leaves, making them curl up. This effect is more pronounced on plants that grow in shaded areas, where sunlight is scarce.

Large numbers will also cause the leaves to yellow, distort, and can inhibit the growth of shoots.

Some species will attack the roots of plants, causing them to wilt and die if the aphids’ numbers get too high.

Disease

Aphid waste is called honeydew, a sticky and sweet substance that will attract a type of mold, called “sooty mold”.

The sooty mold is also harmless in small amounts. However, large amounts of the mold can overwhelm the leaves, decreasing their ability to photosynthesize. The mold will fade away after the aphids are gone.

Aphids are associated with viruses for several plants, and even small numbers of them can transmit the virus with disastrous effects.

Plants with diseases known to come from aphids include:

• Lettuce
• Beans
• Potatoes
• Beets
• Cucumbers

Other insects

Aphids’ honeydew draws several types of insects, including ants.

Though ants won’t directly harm your garden, they will “farm” and protect the aphids from natural predators like ladybugs.

Aphids also draw in certain types of wasps. These wasps will insert their eggs into the aphids. The wasp larvae will eat the aphids from the inside as they grow. Once they’re mature, they break out of the aphid’s dead body.

How to get ‘em gone

If aphids start to get out of control, there are several methods to get rid of them.

A simple way to get rid of them is a hose. Spraying the aphids with a strong stream of water will knock them off the plant, and most won’t be able to make it back.

A common home remedy to get rid of most insects is a spray of dish-soap and water. The soap will kill the bugs and help keep them away.

And, if all else fails, EcoSMART’s Garden Insect Killer is a great way to kill garden pests. Its all-natural formula is safe for your family and pets and will keep the aphids (and other insects) away from your garden.