Aphids
Pest insect
- Presence of shed skins and dead skins on foliage
- Sticky and transparent substance on leaves and stems
- Dense colonies of insects on shoots or leaves
- Deformation of shoots or flower buds
- Plant growth halted or slowed down
- Black mold on leaves and stems
| Difficulty Medium |
| Frquency Medium |
| Reproductive rate Up to 500x |
| Lifecycle Up to 4 months |
Aphids form a family of insects that damage plants by feeding on their sap. They gather in groups of several dozen individuals on the shoots or flowers of infested plants.
Host plants
Aphids are highly polyphagous and are likely to attack the vast majority of vegetable and ornamental plants. Laurels, hibiscus, and syngoniums are among the most affected. With the exception of certain varieties with soft foliage, cacti and succulents are rarely targeted.
Screening
Colonies are easy to spot. Individuals are usually pear-shaped, and their color varies depending on the species and host plant. They are present in most regions of the world.
Aphids are extremely prolific. When the host plant is saturated or conditions are unfavorable, winged individuals may be produced to facilitate migration. A sufficient population can cause the slowing down or interruption of the growth of affected plants.
Prevention
Aphidius colemani are an excellent choice of natural predators for aphid prevention. They are particularly recommended in closed cultivation environments, such as greenhouses and grow tents, where high humidity levels can be achieved.
Treatment
Aphid treatment may involve thorough cleaning, removal of the most affected shoots, foliar treatment, and introduction of natural predators. Green lacewings are extremely effective against adult aphid colonies, while Aphidius colemani parasitize their larvae cyclically. The introduction of Orius insidiosus is also an option in confined cultivation spaces.
Products
Morphology
Adult aphids measure between one and three millimeters long. They have three pairs of legs, two long antennae, and two cornicles, small tubes on the sides of the abdomen. Yellow, black, green, brown, red, white, their color varies depending on the species and host plant. There is also a species covered with a cottony substance known as Woolly Aphids. This species mainly attacks trees and shrubs.
Behaviour
The majority of the hundreds of aphid species feed on foliage and are designated as foliar aphids. Green peach aphids, currant aphids, and melon aphids are among the most common. Other, rarer species attack plants at the soil level and are categorized as root aphids.
Lifecycle
The aphid's life cycle is complex and varies depending on generations produced at different times of the year. Some periods are conducive to egg laying, while at others, females give birth to nymphs directly on the plant. In some cases, aphids can reproduce in the absence of males.