Bugs » Aphids...

DESCRIPTION

Small (2-3mm) soft-bodied insects cluster on the tips of branches or on the undersides of leaves. They can be pinkish-white, green, brown or black in colour. Aphids may or may not have wings. Stickiness or black sooty mold on lower leaves and stems of plants usually indicates a significant aphid population higher up in the plant.

DAMAGE

Aphids feed on a wide variety of fruit, vegetable and ornamental plants. They reduce plant vigour by sucking plant sap, and may also cause leaf curling or stunting of flowers. Aphids can transmit virus diseases from plant to plant.

LIFE CYCLE

Eggs overwinter and hatch in early spring into females. These give birth to live nymphs which mature into adults within a week and bear more nymphs. Once a plant is infested some nymphs develop wings and move to other plants. In the fall males appear and mate with females, which lay overwintering eggs. In some cases ants will move aphid eggs into their nests to protect them for winter. In spring they will place them back onto plants.

CONTROLS

• Apply dormant oil and lime sulfur in March to smother
  overwintering eggs.
• Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization as soft foliage will attract
  aphids.
• Inspect plants frequently as aphid populations rise quickly.
• Crush aphids with fingers if practical.
• Prune off and destroy infested branch tips.
• Wash undersides of leaves with a strong spray of water.
• Limit the movement of ants in trees by placing Tanglefoot
  around the trunk (ants ‘farm’ aphids for their sweet secretion and will protect them).
• Apply pesticides, making sure to get good contact on underside
  of leaves.
• Introduce Aphidoletes or Lady Beetle predators.
• Replace aphid prone plants with resistant species.

PESTICIDES

• Pyrethrin, Safer's Soap, Trounce or Rotenone at label rates.

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