Professional Aphid Pest Control
Aphids are an abundant garden pest commonly found on plant leaves and flowers. They suck sap from plants and leave behind a sticky substance called honeydew. Honeydew weakens plants and makes them more susceptible to fungi and disease.
Don’t let small aphids wreak big havoc in your garden. Rely on professional services from Mosquito Squad Plus® and these tips to manage aphids.
Fun Fact About Aphids
From wasps to ladybugs and even some types of larvae, many types of insects like to feed on aphids. Because aphids are such a popular snack, entomologists developed the term aphidophagous to describe animals that eat aphids.
All About Aphids
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects with long and slender mouths that they use to pierce plant stems, leaves, and fruits to feed on fluids. Aphids are particularly problematic because of their aggressive reproduction rates. They have developed a very efficient reproduction strategy to counteract predators. A single aphid can have about 50-100 offspring in a week! Newborn aphids only take seven to eight days to mature and produce their own offspring.
The Aphid Reproduction Cycle
Aphids overwinter as eggs that hatch only females in the spring. These females reproduce asexually during the spring and summer months and give birth to fully formed nymphs. In late summer and early fall, some female aphids transform into males, and sexual reproduction begins. The females lay eggs in late fall. When spring comes, the cycle starts again!
Common Types of Aphids
There are over 4,000 types of aphids. Common aphids in the United States include the oleander aphid, woolly aphid, and melon aphid. The oleander aphid is bright yellow with black legs. True to the name, it is commonly found on oleander and milkweed. Woolly aphids have a white, cotton-like covering that makes them look fuzzy. They often infest apple trees and elms. They are known to cause galls or deformities on the trees and plants they infest. The melon aphid varies in color from light green to black and is a major pest of crops, including melons and cucumbers.
Signs of Aphid Damage
In gardens and on farms, aphids are a serious issue. Mass feeding can cause aphid leaf damage that turns plants yellow. Aphids also produce honeydew, which is visible even before it causes additional problems.
Common signs of aphid damage include:
- Swelling on plant stems
- Deformed fruits or flowers
- Fungal growth
- Sticky honeydew on leaves and stems
- Leaves with yellow spots and discoloration
- Curled foliage
- Visible aphids on leaves, stems, or branches
Read More: Common Garden Pests and How to Identify and Deter Them
