Identification
The Spruce / Candace Madonna
Aphids are very smallroughly 1/10th of an inch long.
A plant will begin to look unhealthy as it erodes from the infestation.
The plant may also contract diseases that the aphid spreads when it injects saliva into the foliage.
The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
In addition, aphids excrete a sticky, clear substance called “honeydew” which causes sooty mold.
Sooty mold is unsightly and interferes with the plant’s ability to photosynthesize and grow.
Because aphids are so tiny, it’s tough to see clear signs of an infestation.
The Spruce / Candace Madonna
For more serious infestations, you may need to turn to something chemical.
Organic Controls for Aphids
There are numerousnon-chemicalways tocombat or discourageaphid infestations.
Chemical use may result in the loss of beneficial insect populations and aphid predators, such as insect-eating birds.
Michel Vuijlsteke / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Many gardeners turn to integrated pest management (IPM) for home gardening challenges such as aphid control.
Prevention
The best approach to controlling aphids is to prevent them before they occur.
Check for aphid eggs on plants in the winter before the hatching season, as well.
The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
What Attracts Aphids?
Aphids nibble on young, tender, fast-growing, and nitrogen-heavy plants.
In warm weather, some species of aphids develop from nymph to adult in a week.
John Brandauer / flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Get rid of aphidsquickly by spraying them off plants using a garden hose with a strong stream of water.
It’s tough to tell the difference between aphids and other similar tiny pests.
Aphids in Home Yards and Gardens.University of Minnesota Extension.
Aphids Everywhere All at Once.Penn State Extension.
Questioning the Plant Stress Hypothesis.Rutgers University Agricultural Experiment Station.
Pests in Gardens and Landscapes.University of California IPM.
