How To Identify And Control Aphids
Common Name: Aphids or plant louse
Scientific Family Classification: Aphididea
Species: Over 4000 species
Identification:
- Mostly soft-bodied with long, thin legs, two-jointed, two clawed tarsi, and usually a pair of cornicles
- Have two compound eyes and two ocular tubercles made up of three lenses, each of which is located behind and above the compound eyes
- Quite minute, varying in size from 1-10 milimeters long
- Usually green but may be black, grey or orange in colour
- Feed on phloem sap from vascular plants using sucking mouthparts called stylets
- High reproductive capacity resulting in rapid population increase (large colonies)
Damage to plants:
- Weakens the plant
- Causes metabolic imbalance to the plant
- Stunt plant growth
- Transmit viruses between plants
- Foster growth of molds and fungi
- Deform parts of the plant (for example leaf curl and become distorted)
- Leaf loss
Natural Enemy:
- Ladybird
- Green lacewing
- Lady beetle
- Marmalade hoverfly
- Migrant hoverfly
- Parasitic wasp
- Predatory gall midge
Remedy:
- Spray the plant with high pressure water followed by Serbajadi Neem Spray Extra Strength
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