Ornamental plants, as well as fruit and berry crops, are often damaged by aphids. Of the shrubs, aphids of roses, viburnum and deren are especially loved; aphid colonies can often be found on ornamental cherries and apple trees.
There are about 4 thousand species of aphids. These small ovoid black or green insects, less than 2 mm long, form colonies on leaves, stick to the tops of tender young shoots and flower buds. Unfortunately, often they become noticeable only when the shoots of the affected plant are twisted and deformed and blackened leaves appear. The aphid pierces the integumentary tissues of the leaf and sucks the juice out of it, and much more than is necessary for the life of the insect. Aphids leave excess sugars on the leaves in the form of a sticky liquid, which makes it difficult for the plant to breathe. Various fungi and bacteria settle on it, most often black soot fungus. The sweet secretions of aphids attract ants. Shrubs affected by aphids noticeably lag behind in growth, lose their decorative effect and more often die in winter. Winged aphids are able to quickly form new colonies. In two weeks, a new generation of insects will appear from the laid eggs.
Against aphids, plants are sprayed with insecticides - chemicals against insects. For the rapid destruction of aphids within 1-2 days, systemic preparations "Aktara", "Confidor", "Tanrek", "Iskra Zolotaya" and their analogues are effective, the active ingredients of which are most often thiamethoxam or imidacloprid. They penetrate the tissues and protect the plant from the inside, so they are often used in irrigation systems in greenhouses. Preparations of this group are very toxic to any insects and have low toxicity to humans. Their use is limited by a rather high price.
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The second group of drugs against aphids of intestinal-contact action based on the compounds of the group permethrins: "Kinmiks", "Decis Profi", "Inta-Vir", differs in speed of action (from several seconds to 5 minutes). In plants, these preparations do not accumulate, remain effective for no more than 14 days and are easily washed off by rain. However, they should be used with caution on young plants. According to some reports, drugs in this group can cause burns and inhibit the development of young leaves. They have an irritating effect on the skin and mucous membranes of a person, are moderately toxic when ingested.
Another group of drugs that also help against aphids is Actellik, Karbofos, Alatar, Fufanon and others based on organophosphorus compounds. In recent years, aphid populations have appeared that these drugs have practically no effect on, and their toxicity to humans, animals and fish is high, so care must be taken when using them.
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Do not abuse insecticides unnecessarily. When preparing working solutions, be sure to follow the recommendations for the norms and methods of using a particular drug. They do not have a selective effect and destroy beneficial insects that can be your friends in the fight against garden pests. Wear protective clothing, gloves, goggles, and a respirator before spraying your garden with insecticides. Strictly follow the recommendations on the package regarding the time after which it is safe to carry out other work on the treated area.
Biologicals act more slowly, within 10-20 days, and there is a need for re-treatment. Subject to the practical recommendations indicated on the packaging, bioinsecticides are harmless to plants, bees (after drying), entomophagous insects, humans and animals. They can be used on flowering shrubs intended for cutting after 2-3 days. These are Fitoverm, Akarin, Bitoxibacillin, Iskra-BIO and others. These preparations are sprayed in cool weather, at a temperature of about 20 ° C, otherwise they do not work, and with prolonged use of biological preparations, stable aphid populations may arise, so it is better to alternate treatment with other insecticides.
Many gardeners successfully use against pests folk remedies: soapy solution with the addition of oil or serum, infusion of green mass of dandelion, onion and garlic husks and other plants. But with the modern dynamic rhythm of life, it is often impossible to find time to cook them.
Systematic prevention and timely control of aphids when the first signs of plant damage appear will help preserve the beauty of trees and shrubs in the garden.
Aphid is a harmful insect that settles on garden, garden and other crops. Affected plants become depressed, slow down in growth and even die. Fighting aphids with folk remedies is considered the safest method. After all, the applied chemicals that have fallen on vegetable crops are the risk of penetration of toxins into food.
Self-prepared folk recipes, in comparison with chemical poisons, are considered less effective, however, natural and harmless.
The advantages of self-made tools are:
- versatility and simplicity;
- minor harm and toxicity;
- low acquisition cost;
- optimum storage time.
There are many ways that will have a favorable result in protecting the garden, vegetable garden or flower garden. These methods include folk recipes that drive away a malicious pest, specially planted plants or vegetables, etc.
Folk remedies against aphids
It must be borne in mind that not all folk recipes are able to destroy the pest, some have only deterrent actions. They should be used 3-4 times at intervals of 7-10 days. Manipulation to produce in the evening, when there is no precipitation. In case of rain, the treatment is repeated.
The most effective infusions are:
- Onion. It will take 35 g of finely chopped onion (you can use onion peel), which you need to pour 1 liter of water and leave for about 5 hours. Then add 5 g of laundry soap to the composition. Strain the infusion and add up to 1 liter of water.
- Potato peel. Grind 1 kg of peel, insist in 10 liters of water for 3 hours. If the tops are dry, then 0.6-0.8 kg will be enough.
- Marigold. Take half a bucket of finely chopped flowering plants, pour water to the very top, insist for 2 days. Then strain and add 40 g of soap there.
- Garlic. It will take 200 g of chopped vegetable, which is poured into 1 liter of water and infused for about 4-5 days. The result is a concentrated infusion. 25 ml of this product should be diluted in 10 liters of water.
- Pine. For 7 days, insist 1 kg of needles in 4 liters of liquid. Once a day you need to shake it up. Treat in a 1:1 ratio.
- Flowers, stems of celandine. Finely chop 0.4 kg of this plant, pour 1 liter of water, insist for a day and boil for no more than 0.5 hours over low heat.
- Chamomile. Add 100 g of dry plant to 1 liter of water, leave for 12 hours. The proportion of 1 hour of infusion and 3 hours of water (with the addition of soap 4 g: 1 liter) should be sprayed on the affected cultures.
- Citrus peels. 100 g of dried crusts pour 1 liter of warm liquid. Insist 3 days.
- Nettle. 500 g of fresh leaves are filled with 5 liters of water and aged for 12-24 hours.
- Yarrow. The plant should be purchased at the beginning of flowering (without root). Dry yarrow is crushed, 1 liter of hot water is poured, soap is added and infused for 2 days. Process cultures 2 times a day for 7 days.
To prepare infusions, you can use hot peppers, tomato tops, dope, mustard and other medicinal herbs.
Ammonia against aphids
This tool perfectly repels pests, since aphids are quite susceptible to ammonia vapor, in addition, it is considered a top dressing for intensive growth.
It will take 50 ml of alcohol diluted in 10 liters of water. While spraying the plant, the composition should be shaken thoroughly. For better sticking, it is good to add a quarter of a bar of laundry soap (optional). It can be used on outdoor and indoor plants.
Soap solution options
The easiest way to get rid of aphids are soap solutions.
There are several recipes for making the product:
- 300 g of finely chopped soap is diluted in 10 liters of water, after which it is processed;
- 125 g of liquid soap is diluted in 10 liters of water, you can also add onion peel or ash there; the resulting solution wipes the stems, leaves or sprays;
- 5 st. l. laundry soap, or dishwashing detergent, is diluted in 1 liter of water, then sprayed;
- Dilute 100 g of tar soap in a bucket of water, spray on crops;
- the fourth part of the crushed households. soap, 1 tbsp. l. soda dissolves in 1 liter of non-hot water (during precipitation, using soda alone, it is quickly washed off).
Fighting aphids in the garden with ash
The ash solution can be used as an independent agent, or along with soap. Ash is scattered on the ground near the necessary plants or sprinkled on the affected leaves, branches, previously sprayed with water.
- Combine 1.5 kg of ash with 50 g of green soap, add water cooled to 60-70 ° C, insist and treat the desired areas;
- 1 glass of ash is diluted in 5 liters of liquid, infused for 12 hours and is ready to use;
- 300 g of ash is mixed with 50 g of soap, 10 liters of water are poured and put on fire for half an hour; leaves, stems are washed with a warm solution.
Vinegar and soda from aphids
Fighting aphids in a garden plot or vegetable garden involves the use of table vinegar and soda - tools available in every home.
A solution of vinegar is very effective in the fight against various insects. It is made quite simply and does not require any costs. It will take a bucket of water 2 tbsp. l. vinegar. The composition is obtained with a small concentration of acid, so the culture will not harm at all, and the pungent smell will remain. It happens that aphids are located in the middle of twisted, affected leaves and it is not always possible to carefully process the plant. Therefore, you can water from a simple watering can.
A solution of soda is harmless to plants and will not negatively affect the fruits, but it will help get rid of aphids. For cooking, you need 1 tbsp. l. baking soda and 10 liters of water. The composition is sprayed with damaged crops.
How to use tobacco from pests?
The insecticidal features of tobacco allow you to effectively deal with insects. Tobacco or tobacco dust is used to make infusions, solutions.
Recipes for cooking:
- 5 liters of water are combined with 200 g of finely chopped dried tobacco leaves, insist for a day, then add liquid to a full bucket, boil for 2 hours;
- 1 part of dust is mixed with 10 parts of liquid, infused for 2 days, after which it is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 3, then 40 g of soap is added to 10 liters;
- 1 cup dust and wood ash, 1 tbsp. l. mustard and liquid soap is supplemented with 2-3 liters of approximately 70-80 ° C water; aged for 2 hours and filtered, the liquid is added to 10 liters; it is desirable to process the lower part of the sheet 3 times at intervals of 7 days.
Tobacco dust helps to fertilize the soil, increasing the intensity of microorganisms in it and improving yields.
Plants and vegetables in the fight against aphids
Some vegetables and plants can protect crops from pests.
And the defenders themselves, damaged by insects, are removed from the site or processed.
What is the best way to process cabbage, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes from aphids?
Folk remedies for aphids will help protect the culture. However, they should be sprayed in a timely manner, because with a strong defeat, folk recipes will not help.
Cucumbers, cabbage, tomatoes, peppers are well processed with the following means:
- Cabbage. How to deal with aphids on cabbage folk methods? Garlic, ash and onion infusions showed good results. They have a strong odor that repels insects.
- Cucumbers. Effective methods are the use of table vinegar, scattering of mustard powder, treatment with garlic and ash infusion, tar soap. Spraying is best done in the evening.
- Pepper. For the fight, infusions are prepared that are harmless to culture and humans. It can be garlic and onion infusions, dusting vegetables with ash, tobacco dust.
- Tomatoes. Soapy solution, garlic, ash, hot pepper decoction proved to be excellent.
At the time of flowering, processing should not be carried out, because insects that pollinate plants will also be destroyed. For a good result, 3-4 manipulations with an interval of 1 week are required.
There are a lot of ways to deal with aphids, you just need to choose the right tool for a particular crop, as well as based on the degree of infestation and the volume of the site.
- one of the most malicious pests of the garden and vegetable garden, causing irreparable harm to crops. The insect feeds on plant sap, causing deformation of the leaf plate, resulting in the drying of young shoots and inflorescences. But it is very difficult to evict an uninvited guest from a favorite site, since this small insect quickly spreads throughout the garden, harming absolutely all plantings in its path. Therefore, every gardener and amateur gardener should know the most effective remedies for aphids that will help exterminate the pest.
On a note!
There are various methods of dealing with aphids. This article offers only store-bought products designed to kill pests.
Features of biological products
According to the reviews of experienced gardeners, a biological product is the most effective remedy for aphids, as it contains exclusively organic substances. In this connection, it will not harm the health of humans, animals or bees. In addition, the best aphids are allowed to be used in almost any period of plant development. The crop can be harvested and is fit for consumption, usually after 2-5 days from the time of processing.
However, like other formulations, biological preparations have certain disadvantages:
- Slow impact speed. Pests die as dangerous substances accumulate in their body, which takes from 1 to 1.5 weeks.
- The protective properties of the product are lost when precipitation occurs, as a result of which it becomes necessary to re-treat the plants.
- The high cost is another negative point of biologics, which is why they are not available to a wide range of people.
Aktofit
No less well-known biological product against aphids of a similar composition. Has a liquid release form. The solution is prepared before use at the rate of 8 ml of concentrate per 1 liter of water. Due to the fact that the biological components do not affect the eggs, after 2 weeks it is necessary to re-treat.
The mass death of garden and garden pests is observed after 8 days from the moment of spraying. The residual effect of the drug persists for 14 days. The high cost is the only drawback of this biological product (the price of the product is within 340 rubles).
Jaguar
Dosed in sachets and canisters, the Jaguar biological product is also used to kill green aphids and weeds. The active ingredients in it are the antidote cloquintoset-mexil and fenoxaprop-P-ethyl.
To prepare a working solution, the contents of the sachet are poured into a bucket of water, mixed thoroughly and used to spray infected plants. The action of the drug begins after 1-3 hours from the moment of treatment. Biological components penetrate the plant tissue, after which they have a detrimental effect on attacking insects.
The advantage of the drug Jaguar is a long-term residual effect, which lasts for 20-30 days. Precipitation contributes to the weakening of the protective properties.
The price of 1 sachet (2.3 g) is about 50 rubles.
Bitoxibacillin
Another drug for aphids, which is based on live bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis. The toxins produced by these microorganisms are dangerous for harmful insects.
For the treatment of affected plant aphids, a solution is used, which is prepared in a certain proportion for each specific culture (instructions for use are available on the package). In summer, spraying is carried out at least twice with a break of 7 days, in the spring-autumn period - every 10 days.
The advantages of this tool include selectivity in relation to pests: the composition affects aphids, moths, Colorado beetles, ticks and mosquitoes. In addition, the active components do not accumulate in fruits, so Bitoxibacillin can be used in any phase of plant growth.
It has such a medicine and some disadvantages:
- short period of activity of the composition (disappears after 2-3 hours);
- the presence of a specific smell.
The cost of a sachet of Bitoxibacillin (20 g) is about 20 rubles.
Types of chemicals
However, with a high degree of infestation of plants, biological preparations from aphids are not able to give a 100% result and completely rid garden plants of aphids. Chemical agents that have high efficiency and speed of action will come to the rescue in such a situation.
Chemical preparations against aphids can be divided into the following groups:
- Systemic preparations penetrate directly into the plant tissues of a green plantation. As a result, they have a negative effect on insects that have eaten the juice of such a plant.
- Insecticides against aphids of intestinal action produce a toxic effect. They enter the body of the insect through the digestive organs, causing paralysis and death.
- Preparations against aphids of contact action act on insects through contact with their chitinous cover.
Chemistry from aphids is used exclusively until the buds open. Processing at a later period negatively affects the pollinating insects, which leads to a decrease in the number of ovaries and loss of yield. No less harmful is the treatment of the plant with pesticides during the fruiting period, since the toxic composition will remain in fruits, vegetables or berries.
Below is a list of the most popular tools.
Spark
Iskra Golden
A systemic drug based on the insecticidal component imidacloprid. It penetrates the organic structure of the culture and is distributed by the juice of the plant throughout its vegetative mass. The penetration of the toxic component into the digestive tract of the insect has a negative effect on its nervous system, causing paralysis and death of the pest. In a similar way, the active ingredient also acts upon physical contact with an insect, penetrating through its cover. Iskra Zolotaya is produced in the form of a concentrate, packaged in ampoules (10 ml), the cost of each is within 75 rubles.
On a note!
To obtain the maximum effect, the plants are sprayed with a freshly prepared solution, the result of which is noticeable after a few hours. If necessary, after 10-20 days, re-treatment is carried out.
Iskra M
A new effective poison against aphids and other horticultural pests has a fast action and is used as an "ambulance" to protect affected plants thanks to its malathion. It is a concentrated liquid composition placed in 5 ml ampoules. The cost of one ampoule is about 20 rubles.
The solution is prepared immediately before treatment in the proportion of 5 ml of the product per 5 liters of water. Processing is carried out in the morning or in the evening in the absence of rain and wind.
Spark Bio
The drug, which is based on avermectins - natural toxins that act in a paralytic way on harmful insects. In this connection, it is allowed to use it until the harvest itself. In addition, the composition is not addictive in pests and destroys insects that are immune to other drugs.
On a note!
Another advantage of the tool is the possibility of its use in hot weather. With an increase in air temperature of more than +28 degrees, the effective properties of the product improve.
Caviar Bio is available in ampoules (10 ml). You can buy it in the store or order it online. The cost of the drug is within 70 rubles.
Aktara
Powdered drug for systemic action is created on the basis of thiamethoxam. In this connection, the effect of its contact-intestinal insecticide can be observed after a few hours. The prolonged effect of the drug persists for 15-30 days. Due to the fact that the product belongs to the 3rd hazard class, the composition is especially toxic to bees, less toxic to birds and inhabitants of the reservoir.
The price of Aktara varies depending on the type of packaging: a 4 g package costs around 100 rubles, a 250 g bottle costs about 4,500 rubles.
Aphids are small insects that feed on plant sap and spread pathogens of agricultural crops. Larvae appear in early spring and occupy crops until autumn. Shaking off or washing off arthropods is pointless. The most effective way to control the pest is to use biologics and insecticides against aphids.
Biologicals
Currently, manufacturers of insecticides, rotdenticides and other plant protection products offer a wide range of aphid control products.
Biologically active remedies for aphids are used at home quite often. Preparations do not accumulate in garden, garden plants - the fruits grow environmentally friendly. Bioinsecticides have a number of other advantages:
- lack of phytotoxicity;
- do not cause resistance in pests;
- safe for useful entomofauna (bees, bumblebees), fish, humans;
- possibility of use in any period of vegetation.
The funds also have disadvantages that should be considered:
- the insect dies after sufficient accumulation of the toxin in its body - after 5-7 days, in a week the insect manages to cause serious harm;
- rain or irrigation completely wash off the drug;
- bioinsecticides are more expensive than synthetic counterparts.
Fitoverm
Biological product in the form of an emulsion, which includes aversectin C - a mixture of avermectins produced by microorganisms of the genus streptomycins. The substance kills harmful insects, mites, zoophilous flies. Most often it is used to control aphids.
After spraying, aversectin penetrates the chitinous cover after eating the leaves into the body of the arthropod and, acting on the nervous system, causes paralysis and death. After 4 days, the pest stops eating, and after another 3 days it dies.
The drug Fitoverm from aphids is diluted immediately before use. The concentration depends on the type of plant.
Fitoverm is not addictive, it can be used for several years in a row. Effective in combination with synthetic insecticides, pyrethroids.
Biological product in the form of a water-soluble concentrate based on imidacloprid. It is intended for destruction of the majority of types of aphid on vegetable, fruit crops, flowers.
The method of application depends on the type of representatives of the flora:
- for processing vegetables on the open ground, dilute 5 ml of the product per 10 liters of water. Cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes are sprayed during the growing season. The average consumption of poisonous liquid is 30 liters per hundred square meters;
- for spraying apple trees, cherries, pears, dilute 3 ml per bucket of water (10 l). The consumption of the solution depends on the age and variety of fruit trees. On average, 2-5 liters per woody plant;
- for pest control on currants, raspberries, 4 ml of a biological product is diluted in a bucket of liquid. On average, up to 1.5 liters of working poison goes to a bush;
- garden and indoor flowers are irrigated with a mixture of 10 liters of water and 5 ml of Biotlin.
The period of preventive action is 2-4 weeks.
Aktofit
The drug has a similar mechanism of action with the pesticide Fitoverm, since both agents have the same active substance - aversectin C. Aktofit is an effective bioinsecticide not only against aphids, but also against weevils, caterpillars, thrips, and mites.
To prepare a toxic liquid for spraying crops in the country, 4 ml of Aktofit is dissolved in a liter of water. For indoor plants - 2 ml / liter. Spray in the evening, every 2-4 weeks.
Fufunon Bio
A chemical plant protection product used to control pests and weeds. The active substance is malathion, which has a toxic effect on insects (aphids, thrips). Malathion (Karbofos is prescribed in some instructions) is an organophosphorus compound that is safe for humans.
The drug is not suitable for long-term use, over time the insect gets used to it.
Insecticides
Chemicals used to control pests are called insecticides. They are faster acting than biogenic ones. But they can accumulate in leaves and fruits, having a negative effect on the plant and humans.
According to studies by the chemical company Bayer, Aktara has a high rate of attack on pests and the ability to accumulate in plants and soil. Studies conducted in the Leningrad region showed a 56% reduction in potato damage.
The amount of the drug (g) per 10 liters of water
Analogues for home use: Cruiser, Thiamethoxane.
Iskra Golden
Iskra is a synthetic drug for aphids based on neonicotinoids. Active substances have high bioactivity, low volatility, and are well accumulated in insect receptors. When it enters the body, the arthropod is blocked by the transmission of a nerve impulse, it dies from nervous overexcitation.
The preparations are effective for combating aphids, leafhoppers, weevils, whiteflies. The solution is treated with soil for indoor flora. Iskra Zolotaya kills pests that are resistant to other drugs. Works flawlessly in hot weather.
The solution is prepared before use, at the rate of 5 ml/10 l of water. Plants are treated during the appearance of sucking arthropods. The product is suitable for spraying outdoors, in greenhouses, indoors (seedlings, flowers).
Tanrek can be used to process seedlings and adult plants. Active against cereal, melon, apple, redcurrant aphids. A poisonous substance penetrates the insect through contact, eating treated trunks, shoots. Pests die within three days.
The insecticide has a low consumption rate - 3-5 ml per 10 liters of water. When processing trees, one unit should take from 2 to 5 liters of the prepared substance, and 0.5-1 liters per bush.
Fly-eater granules are an insecticide and fungicide, a derivative of phosphorus. Preparations of this type have replaced organochlorine - unsafe for the environment. The active ingredients of the agent accumulate in the tissues of pests, gradually destroying them.
Other means
In addition to store-bought remedies for aphids, in gardens, in the country, folk recipes are used. For their preparation, they take the ingredients available in every home.
- Soap and soda solution. Add 50 g of crushed laundry soap to a liter of water, stir until completely dissolved. Pour a tablespoon of soda ash, mix until the sediment is eliminated.
- Syrup from Cola. A spray bottle is put on the bottle and the plants are poured abundantly from all sides. The tool is effective not only from aphids, but also from ants.
- Sorrel infusion. 300 gr. sorrel roots are poured with boiling water, infused until cool. The solution is passed through a filter, water is added to a total volume of 10 liters.
If the situation is not critical, you can try homemade recipes. In other circumstances, it is better to use biogenic and chemical insecticides.
We use aphids, but after a week, another aphid reappears. Why? The answer lies in the amazing life cycle of an insect. Let's figure out how to get rid of aphids forever.
3 main remedies for aphids
Means from aphids are divided into 3 groups:
- Intestinal
- Contact
- Fumigants
Each group of funds kills aphids in their own way:
- In the first case, aphids eat poison and dies.
- In the second - we pour insects with a remedy, paralyzing their nervous system and they die.
- And the third, this includes, by the way, folk remedies for aphids - blocks breathing and the insects suffocate and die.
- But we are talking about an adult insect, which we already see and, literally, "hear the crunch of its jaws." Will this struggle benefit our garden?
Why do you need to know how aphids live?
Aphids on fruit trees, on currant bushes, on indoor flowers or on balcony plants live and reproduce in the same way. To deal with aphids effectively, you need to know the way it lives and reproduces. This knowledge will help you understand what to do for prevention and which remedy and in which case it is better to choose.
Fantastic vitality of aphids, as a species
It is curious that many horror films are inhabited by alien creatures with an extraordinary ability to survive. As a rule, these on-screen "bogeymen" are very similar to our ordinary terrestrial insects.
Filmmakers often don't even have to come up with the look or breeding process of their monsters.
The ability to reproduce and reincarnate, the respiratory and digestive systems of ordinary aphids look so incredible that it causes horror in an unprepared person.
4000 species of aphids - is it worth it to figure out which one you have
Amateur gardeners, having met aphids for the first time, are trying to determine the type of aphid. They look at photos of insects on the Internet or in books and try to find similar ones to those that have occupied their plants.
I don't even know if that makes any sense. After all, there are more than 4,000 species of aphids. Its color ranges from white to black, including green, red, beige, and brown.
In biology textbooks they write that the color matches the color of the host plant. Although my black aphid sucks the green juice from the fleshy leaves of stonecrop for a sweet soul and does not think to turn green.
Aphid life cycle
Aphids emerge from eggs
Eggs sit on parts of overwintering perennials. We don't see them. As we do not see them here, in the photograph of my wintering stonecrop.
Stonecrop wintering on the balcony is visible in a pot on the balcony. Aphid eggs are not visible on wintering plants. The hatched aphid gives birth to same-sex wingless larvae
In the spring, the aphid hatches and begins to feed on young shoots that have just begun to grow. But we still don't see anything. It multiplies intensively during this period, giving birth to same-sex wingless insects.
It does not lay eggs, but it gives birth to larvae of individuals. These wingless aphids will reproduce by live birth colonies of new wingless aphids.
- It is believed that it is in June that the peak of aphid activity occurs.
Wingless aphids begin to give birth to winged individuals
By June, the aphid begins to lack young tender shoots and winged individuals are already beginning to appear in its offspring, which fly to other plants and multiply already there.
By the way, there are aphids that choose only one type of plant, and there are aphids that destroy different types.
The appearance of bisexual individuals in autumn
By autumn, so-called normal females and males miraculously appear in the offspring of aphids. Males fertilize females and females lay eggs on leaves and trunks. There they remain until spring.
Isn't this the plot of a horror movie?
How aphids attack plants
The waste product of aphids is honeydew. It is this substance that we see on the affected leaves in the form of a shiny sticky coating. With this sticky substance, aphids attract their relatives to the occupied plant.
apple aphids
There are aphids in which the life cycle begins on one plant, then the winged ones fly to another. There they turn into normal males and females. And those return to the generic plant to lay eggs. (for example, such as: green apple aphid, bird cherry aphid)
grape aphid
There are also aphids that migrate through parts of the plant (for example, grape aphids).
gall aphid
There are gall aphids. If a common aphid pierces the surface of a leaf, sucks out the juice and crawls to the next place. That gall aphid piercing the surface, as it were, “cements” the hole, strengthening it with its enzyme. As a result, swellings are formed on a red sheet - galls. These galls are well known to those who grow currants and apples.
No matter how diverse the world of aphids is, they cause the same harm:
- Depletion of green mass, falling leaves, death of flowers
- Spread and infect plants with viral diseases
- Allocate honeydew, sweet excrement, attracting not only aphids, but also other pests.
How do ants take care of aphids?
Aphids have a particularly touching relationship with ants. Some mistakenly believe that ants are aphids. But the ants lick the sweet honeydew and take care of their breadwinners in return. They carry wingless aphids onto fresh young shoots and even keep female aphids in winter in their anthills.
- Knowing the features of the aphid life cycle and its ability to turn from a wingless creature into a winged one, it is possible to fight the pest meaningfully. After all, we now know that after processing, aphids can reappear simply by flying from a neighboring site.
What is a systemic insecticide and how does it differ from a fungicide?
Sometimes, unknowingly, people apply systemic fungicides. It's completely useless. Since fungicides treat diseases caused by fungi, and aphids are not a disease. This is an insect attack.
Aphid remedies are often bought and used when aphids have already formed entire colonies. When the leaves are shiny and sticky, or bumpy and reddish, or curled up. That is, when the gardener is already saw waste products aphid colonies.
Aktara is a popular remedy
Aktara is a systemic insecticide. Do not apply only when aphid colonies are visible. Try to apply in early spring, when the plants are starting to grow, to kill the hatching aphid larvae. Read the instructions and act according to it.
- It is important that if you use actara, do not use folk remedies at the same time, which usually have an alkaline environment.
The validity period of actara is 14 days on leaves and up to 60 days with root watering.
After 14 days, the foliage will no longer be dangerous to aphids and there is a chance that winged individuals will again settle on plants.
Decis - systemic drug
The drug has very good reviews. I applied it myself when hordes of aphids settled on my stonecrop.
Take 2 ml of Decis with a syringe from a bottle, dilute in a liter of water, and spray with a spray bottle
After spraying each leaf, I covered it with a plastic bag, this is not necessary. After 15 minutes, I removed the package.
Lack of use of systemic drugs
On my balcony, I can perform this operation by isolating the plant. The fact is that I have 2 cats and I am worried about the health of my pets. Especially since I saw something like this:
half an hour after processing the stonecrop, a bumblebee flew in, flew a little on the balcony and fell to the floor. The poor man circled in one place for a long time, desperately buzzing - he could not get up. The poison also affected him. Luckily, he was able to get up after a few minutes and fly away.
A big disadvantage of systemic drugs is just the effect on a wide range of insects, including beneficial ones, such as bees and bumblebees.
Although, summer residents told me that not all systemic drugs are harmful to beneficial insects. On the packaging of drugs often write a list of insects on which the drug acts.
- Early application of systemic insecticides before flowering is likely to help save bees and bumblebees
Folk remedies for aphids - what is common
There are a lot of recipes that are positioned as folk remedies. Here and pepper, and garlic, and all kinds of decoctions of herbs.
Friends, the idea of these recipes is the same - pour insects with a solution that blocks their breathing.
- Aphids breathe with their whole body, on their little bodies there are the smallest respiratory openings.
The task of all solutions is simply to clog these holes. But all exhausted gardeners certainly want to use something meaner, more unpleasant, for example, pepper, shag or garlic.
It's not about the smell, it's about the consistency. The solution must be made very soapy, such a solution forms a film on the body of the insect, which will block the air.
Ordinary laundry soap will do, as in this video of mine
Or any dishwashing detergent, or a solution of alkalis such as soda ash or even shumanite. All aphids die from the shumanit solution, but the leaves also suffer a little, they wither a little, then recover. Such caustic media at the same time destroy the entire body of the insect.
Means of prevention
- Attracting entomophages
- Plant rejuvenation
- Selection of healthy seedlings
1. Attracting entomophages
Entomophages are insect predators. Such predators include cute ladybugs, praying mantises, riders, lacewings. You can attract them by planting honey plants on the site or on the balcony. Although, I don’t think about the degree of honey production, I just plant fragrant flowers. Gaillardia, alyssum, petunia.
On the plots, some gardeners plant ordinary carrots to attract beneficial insects. The carrots themselves are planted in cups in January, and in the spring they are transplanted into near-stem circles of fruit trees. Carrots bloom with fruit and attract pollinators and protectors.
It is clear that ladybugs cannot be a decisive force in the fight against hordes of aphids. These are rather preventive measures, and measures for a wider variety of garden life.
2. Plant rejuvenation (aphids on currants)
Especially this method works to combat aphids on currants.
Regular rejuvenation of currant bushes gives an excellent result in the fight against aphids. Under the root, remove the old shoots, leaving a couple of three branches for divorce. In the spring, thin out the young shoots, and after a year or two, remove the old shoots left earlier for divorce. Keep an eye on young plants.
And change the location of the currant bushes, moving them around the site. For example, in one place for 4-5 years, then in another. While the old ones bear fruit, plant new ones in another place, then for 3 years from the young there is already a good harvest, and we remove the old ones and so on in a circle. Experienced summer residents, using this method, do not know the problems with aphids and are advised not to keep the bushes for many years in one place.
3. Selecting healthy seedlings as an aphid control
And another preventive measure is to choose seedlings for planting strong and healthy. Do not save on planting material, seedlings should look healthy and strong. As a result, you will get strong plants. Pests and fungi are more likely to attack weakened specimens.
In conclusion, I want to wish: take care of your gardens and gardens, fight aphids on indoor and garden flowers correctly, with an understanding of the matter, and you will succeed.
