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Aphids

Aphids

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Aphids are one of the most common plant pests. They multiply quickly and can cause significant damage to your plants, so it’s important to try and catch them early!

Aphids are tiny, so they can be hard to detect at first. You usually won't spot them until their numbers have increased and already are covering big parts of the plant. Fortunately they are relatively easy to treat against.

SYMPTOMS & IDENTIFICATION

These bugs can attack all parts of a plant but prefer newer growth. The most common symptoms are:

  • White sheds on and around your plants. These are their shed skins and are often mistaken for other pests or even spiders

  • Stems and new growth covered with tiny bugs

  • Sticky surfaces on and around your plant- honeydew

  • Leaves become misshapen, curled or yellowing

  • Black sooty mold

  • On outdoor plants - Ants can be seen on plants infested with mealybugs, aphids, white flies or scale insects

aphids

TREATMENT PLAN

Thankfully, aphid control is relatively easy. Here's our recommended treatment plan:

1. Isolate the affected plant

  • Aphids can easily spread to other plants by crawling between them, particularly if there is overlap of branches and leaves.

2. Fight mechanically by removing all visible bugs

  • You can squash the aphids using your fingers or a paper towel

  • Shower your plant with a jet of water to dislodge most of the aphids

  • Make sure to clean windows and surfaces around where the plant have been placed

3. Treat your plant - Note that some plants, especially their flowers, can react badly to pesticides or soaps so test it on a smaller area of the plant first and treat your plant carefully. Always avoid direct sunlight after application as it can burn the plant.

  • Treat your plant with a soapy water, neem oil, a store bought pesticide or insecticidal soap.

    • Since aphids are easy to treat, following the principle of using the mildest alternative first is gentler to the plant and sustainable for the environment.

4. Keep treating your plants

  • Repeat the treating your plant with the pesticide, soap, or the solution of your choice, about once or twice a week as long as needed.

5. Consider using biological pest control Biological control can help to reduce an infestation but should be used in combination with other treatments for the best effect.

  • Aphids respond well to a number of different methods, including natural predators such as lacewings and ladybugs.

Note that these beneficial insects will also be harmed by pesticides used on the plant. Add them when you're done with the repeated initial weekly treatments or you think the aphids are mostly gone on the plant.

  • Dusting your plants with diatomaceous earth can help keeping aphid infestations down. An effective preventive treatment on e.g. your edible plants or outdoor container plants that are extra susceptible to aphids.

aphids

CAN I PREVENT THIS IN THE FUTURE?

Examine all new plants before you bring them home and keep them in quarantine for the first couple of weeks. Continue checking all your plants regularly to catch any infestation early.

QUESTIONS ABOUT APHIDS

WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE? Aphids are tiny soft-bodied, pear shaped insects - Around ¼ in. or less (1 to 7mm), depending on the species and the age of the bug. They can vary in color ranging from almost clear, yellow, green, red, brown, black and orange. Some do also have patterns or are mottled in color. Most of the aphids you'll see are wingless but they can also produce wings.

CAN THEY FLY? The majority of aphids do not have wings. But after several generations, when the plant becomes overcrowded or if the food supply becomes short, winged females (alates) are produced. They can then fly over to new host plants and start new colonies of aphids.

WHAT DO THEY EAT? Aphids feed on plant sap, and are usually concentrated on new growth, buds, fruit and soft stems. This can cause the plant to become weak and can also lead to the spread of plant viruses.

WHY DO LEAVES BECOME STICKY? Aphids secrete honeydew which is a sticky sap. The honeydew itself is not harmful to your plants at all, but it can start to grow sooty mold on top of the leaves covered in honeydew. The sooty mold only decomposes the sap and doesn't penetrate the leaves. The mold can begin to block out light and makes photosynthesis less efficient for the plant.

Honeydew can also attract ants on outdoor plants, which feed on the honeydew. These, in turn, protect the aphids from predators

ARE SOME PLANTS MORE AT RISK THAN OTHERS? Aphids can infest most types of plants but some are more attractive than others. Soft-leaved species can be somewhat more susceptible than hard leaved species but you shouldn't rule out examining any of your plants.

aphids