Aphid Infestation Leaving You Overwhelmed?
October 7th, 2009 Posted in Ornamental & Lawn Pests
So you just planted some beautiful new roses, and now they’re covered with little bugs: aphids. How did it happen?
But what are aphids, and more importantly, what happens if you have an aphid infestation?
What is an aphid?
Aphids come in a rainbow of colors and species. There’s over 4000 different aphids in the world today. Aphids feed on the sap of plants, using a long straw-like mouth inserted directly into the plant.
Aphids have:
- Small, pear-shaped bodies that can get up to 1/2 inch in length.
- Small tubes coming out of their backs called cornicles.
- No wings. Most aphids are wingless. Winged aphids only appear when a plant becomes overpopulated or begins to die.
- Winged aphids are simply carried by the wind – their wings aren’t strong enough for direct flight.
Is it an infestation?
If you come across a few aphids, no need to be afraid. Small numbers of aphids will not be an immediate threat for your garden.
The difficult part of aphids is their reproductive habits. Several aphids can multiply into several hundred in a matter of days.
Aphids become most common in the spring, when the temperature is warm and their natural predators haven’t sprung up in full force.
Damage infestations cause
Aphids secrete a waste called honeydew. This sticky substance attracts a fungus, called “sooty mold.”
Sooty mold blocks the amount of sunlight getting to the plant’s leaves, interfering with photosynthesis and stunting the plants growth.
Leaves that have been long-time victims to aphids will begin to curl at the ends, creating a defensive shield for the aphids against predators.
Aphids on new plants will eat the buds as well, causing the flowers to be dried and deformed.
A few aphids carry viruses for plants, and even a few minutes of feeding can transmit the virus.
Getting rid of an infestation
If you have an infestation, there are several ways to get rid of them. If aphids are covering at least 5 percent of the plant’s tips, you should consider getting rid of them.
Generally, a strong stream of water from a hose will knock the aphids off the plants, and the majority of them won’t be able to make it back.
Buying ladybugs, a natural predator, will help with the problem. Ladybugs and lacewings will both feed on the aphids, keeping their numbers down.
Another way to kill aphids is a dish soap and water spray, or try a ready-made, family-safe garden insect killer.
3 Comments | The First 1,000 to Comment (Starting 12/21/2009) Will Become EcoSMART Product Testers!
By Jimmy on Oct 18, 2009
very accurate information.
By Phoenix on Mar 28, 2010
We have an aphid problem mostly. We grow a lot of our food and would like to use safe products in and around our gardens.
By Avtar Thompson on Jul 2, 2011
For the first time, after fifteen years of small time gardening, I am finding aphids on everything in my yard, flowers, vegetables, even weeds. I have tried a neem oil spray, which is supposed to be OK for organic gardens, but it didn’t rid them all. They seemed to have left the plants treated and now havemultiplied on others. So far they are not on the peas, green beans, beets, or chard. Help!!!!