Aphids are an insect with a soft body that utilizes their mouthparts to pierce and
suck the sap from plants. These colonies of insects can usually be found on the
underside of newly growing terminal growth. If a leaf becomes heavily infested
it will appear yellowish and will eventually wilt. This is caused by the colony
removing large quantities of the leaf's sap. Much of the damage caused by aphids
is cosmetic, meaning it looks unsightly to the homeowner.
THE PROBLEM BEGINS:
Winged aphids or "colonizers" will fly around searching for a suitable
host tree or shrub. Once they have found such a plant, they will drop wingless
young on the new growth and continue on their way. These nymphs feed voraciously
on the sap and increase in size. In 7-10 days they will mature and are capable
of producing live young, generally 40-60 young each. The interesting thing
about this is that most are born female. This creates a population explosion in
no time. An example of this is fewer than 12 colonizers can produce hundreds if
not thousands of offspring in just a few weeks. This process continues until
the plant can no longer support the population. At this point, new winged aphids
are produced and the cycle is repeated.
CONTROLLING APHIDS:
By discovering the aphids early you can minimize the effects they will
have on your trees and shrubs. Keep an eye on terminal growth. Examine underneath
new leaf growth for groups of aphids. By being vigilant you can usually control
theses colonies by hand, either crushing them or pruning. If however, you
discover aphids on more than 10% of your plant, you may want to consider using
a contact insecticide to control them. As this is an insecticide please be sure
to follow the instructions on the label carefully before and when applying them
to your plants. For a contact insecticide to work effectively you must actually
hit the aphids before control will be successful. Ensure you use an even thorough
spray pattern when applying. Concentrate on growing points and protected
areas within the plant. If possible spray underneath leaves for effective control.
CULTURAL CONTROLS:
As stated earlier, you may be able to control small populations of aphids
by crushing them by hand or by pruning out affected areas. A good rinse with
your garden hose will also dislodge some of the colony. Ladybugs and lacewings
are also very effective at controlling aphids. These predators will consume
large quantities of aphids
Paul is a Certified Pesticide Applicator in Alberta, Canada. He has over 15
years experience in the lawn care industry.For more lawn care information please
visit http://www.fairyring.caArticle Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Burke
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