Where the Aphid Sucks

There are many different species of aphid that can flourish in a garden. These little phloem sap sucking creatures can be a useful snack for several creatures but can become a problem if they colonise a plant. Two of the most important things to note are that not all the aphids you may find in your garden are green, they can be orange, red, and black too, and that aphids will not necessarily kill a plant outright, but they may cause it to become disfigured or damaged because of the viruses that aphids can pass on. Though in certain cases, a plant may die or need to be removed and destroyed if the infestation is severe.

In terms of aphid control nature can take of that because of the number of aphid predators (as mentioned above) present in your average garden; with ladybirds being a common example of a creature that enjoys an aphid feast. If a small area of a plant is affected, you can spray the aphids with water from a hose or a spray bottle to rinse them off, or flick them off and crush them. 

Honeydew, a sticky clear secretion aphids leave on leaves that can cause mildew to appear on them is another issue. Aphids are not the only honeydew creating creatures so be sure to look for signs to rule out an infestation of another bug. Once you know that you’re dealing with aphids, prune away any effected growth and clean up any remaining effected areas with insecticide if necessary. And always remember to sterilise your tools to prevent the spread of infection. 

And that’s it for today’s minute about how to temper the aphid pest problem in your garden.