Aphids
Symptoms
Most commonly thought of as the small, fat, green insects covering
roses. However, aphids can also be black, yellow, pink, greyish-white
and brown. They are all about 2mm long, round and full of sap.
Harm
Bad infestations can reduce the vigour of a plant and leave it vulnerable
to attack by other pests and diseases. Virus diseases can be spread
by aphids as they move from one infected plant to another. Aphids
feed by sticking their mouth parts straight into the plants veins.
Any excess sap they cannot consume simply spills out around them.
This is why leaves often feel sticky. This sap is often colonised
by black sooty mould which can smother the upper surfaces of the
leaves and reduces the plants ability to make food.
Treatment
Organic - the best thing to do is encourage the predators of aphids,
such as ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies, into your garden. This
can be done by planting nectar-rich flowering plants which attract
them, such as buddleia, calendula, sedum, stocks, sweet William
and wallflowers. Get a head start on the aphids by growing a patch
of nettles with a small colony to help build up natural predators
in your garden. Cut back the nettles when aphids appear in other
parts of your garden to encourage the predators to seek them out.
Also, lacewing houses can be bought to put up in the garden so they
have a shelter for the winter.
Organic
insecticide sprays include those based upon Pyrethrum, derris and
insectisidal soap.
Get
pest control products from Crocus - The leading online garden centre
Source:
Crocus
- The leading online garden centre
