How to detect and cure Aphid Infestation

Often referred to as plant lice, the aphids are small insects that feed on various kinds of plants such as fruits, vegetables, trees and flowers.

At approximately 1/8 inch with soft rounded bodies, Aphids can quietly damage your trees, plants and other vegetations. They come in various colors including black, red or green in color. Aphids are one of the fastest reproducing insects from the Aphidae family. They are capable of producing up to thirteen generations in one season.

Fully mature Aaphids can produce anywhere from three up to six nymphs during their lifetime which left unchecked, typically lasts about a month. Because of their ability to quickly reproduce, full infestation can occur in a matter of days.

Aphids can quickly become very nasty garden pest if left untreated. Their source of food is the sap from plant tissue which they suck. This causes damage to the affected trees and plants and spreads disease from one plant to another.

How to determine Aphid Infestation

The presence of honeydew, a shiny, sticky waste material that is excreted after feeding, is usually a good sign that you have an aphid infestation.

The honeydew substance will cover the infested plants or trees and eventually turn into a black sooty mold that attracts large colonies of ants. The best way to determine an aphid infestation is to watch out for shiny sticky substances on your plants and trees and for plant damage, which can include leaf curling, wilting and death of new shoots and buds.

How to cure Aphid infestation

There are several ways to detect and cure aphid infestation. This includes inspecting your plants for damage such as wilting, leaf curling and shiny honeydew substance on the leaves.

Early detection allows quick eradication. It also allows you to take control of the infestation before it gets out of hand. Aphids are food sources for other natural predators including lady bug larvae, spiders, lacewing larvae and parasitic wasps.

Releasing these natural predators into infested areas can help reduce the aphid’s infestation. Using jets of water or a moist cloth also removes Aphids. If all else fail, apply pepper or garlic spray. Applying garlic or hot pepper spray once every two to three days for two weeks helps to effectively kill persistent aphid populations.

Nashville Tree Doctors can help mitigate the effects of Aphids infestation, Call us today at 615-496-1542.