How to get rid of aphids

The purpose of this guide is to know how to get rid of aphids, which are the best insecticides for aphids and recognize the symptoms of an infestation

These tiny insects, also known as plant lice , are among the most common that can be found on fruit trees, horticultural crops and ornamental plants.

There are countless species of these small parasites that feed on the lifeblood of young plants. There are about 4,800 of them in the animal kingdom. The most harmful and dangerous ones for crops are around 250, including:

Aphis nerii , aphid dell'oleander;
Hyalopterus pruni , mealy plum aphid;
Macrosiphum rose , the aphid of the rose;
Bean wasp , black bean aphid;
Brevicoryne brassicae , aphid ceroso del cavolfiore;
Myzus persicae , green aphid that attacks the peach tree, but also the tomato;
Dysaphis plantaginea , or gray apple aphid
Aphis spiraecola , Toxoptera aurantii , Aphis gossypii , all aphids which attack Citrus fruits;
Phorodon cannabis , aphid that feeds on hemp plants.

But how do plant aphids behave? And why do they represent a great concern for those who are dedicated to indoor and outdoor crops?

Aphids have a particular mouthparts, called rostrum or proboscis, with which they suck the lifeblood of plants, from stems, branches and leaves.

At the same time, they release a sugary substance called honeydew into the vegetable tissue . This secretion alters the natural physiology of the plant, creating the ideal environment for the development of fungi that carry plant diseases such as sooty mold .

Honeydew also prevents the leaves from absorbing the sun's rays, thus blocking the correct activity of chlorophyll photosynthesis.

But that's not all, because this sugary secretion is a delicious source of nourishment for other insects, such as ants and plants, which by feeding on it contribute to weakening the plant, exposing it to attack by viruses, bacteria and other diseases. The consequences often have to do with very serious production losses.

In this article we will talk about how it is possible to prevent damage from aphids on plants with natural remedies , but also with insecticide products that are not necessarily chemical.

What is an aphid and how to recognize it

It's not particularly difficult to spot aphids. These insects are about 1 cm large. Their appearance and color varies according to the stage of development in which they are and the species to which they belong.

They can be red, green, yellow, brown and black. Winged or not. Beyond the differences in appearance, it is possible to find common characteristics in the way they attack the plant and the damage they cause.

The aphids, in fact, tend to position themselves in groups on the underside of the leaves. But they are also often arranged on the trunk, if it is not of the woody type, in an almost massive way so as to completely cover all the green parts of the plant. Here they suck the lifeblood.

All sucking points are easily visible in the form of small specks on the leaves. But the most obvious signs of aphid infestation are:

Misshapen and crumpled appearance of the leaves;
Withering and necrosis of the plant;
yellowing;
Delayed flower and fruit production;
Poor harvest.

In the long run, if left untreated, plants attacked by aphids simply tend to die. And this translates into significant economic damage for a grower.

What are the best defense strategies for getting rid of aphids ? Control and Prevention. Read on to learn more.

Aphids control: the best way to defend your growing

Periodic monitoring of the growing is certainly the first defense strategy against aphids . Once identified, in fact, it will not be difficult to remove these insects manually. A regular check, in fact, helps you to immediately notice the danger, preventing the insects from spreading, creating irreparable damage.

Unfortunately, aphids reproduce very quickly. This phenomenon is usually favored by the dry heat, so much so that in the summer months, if one does not intervene in time, it is possible to witness mass reproduction within just 10 days.

Obviously, massive infestations create serious damage to the health of cultivated plants, of whatever species they are. However, control is not everything, a good problem prevention strategy is also needed.

If you want to defend your cultivation or garden from plant lice, what you need to do is create a "hostile" environment for the most harmful insects. How?

Periodically checking the state of health of the plants , paying attention to the points where the aphids hide;
Keep your cultivation clean and well cared for , free of weeds and weeds;
Remove any parts affected by aphids and rinse the rest with water or with a solution of water and vinegar;
Introduce predatory insects (ladybirds, diptera, neuroptera, hymenoptera) during spring as a preventive biological weapon;
Plant repellent species such as nasturtium, calendula, garlic and chrysanthemum (from which pyrethrum is obtained, which as we will see is a powerful natural insecticide for aphids).

If all this is not enough to prevent aphid infestations, there are many other pesticides and natural remedies that you could consider. Find out what they are in the next paragraphs.

5 natural aphids killer

In organic farming, the practice of using biological remedies to defend crops and keep these annoying and dangerous parasites away from your plants is increasingly widespread.

Fighting them and getting rid of them once and for all with a homemade aphid insecticide is far from ineffective. Here are 5 natural remedies that you should definitely try in the fight against aphids:

Pyrethrum;
Garlic decoction;
Marseille soap;
nettle macerate;
Neem oil.

Pyrethrin is a substance of natural origin that eliminates aphids by contact. It should be sprayed on infested plants, trying to hit the insects directly. It is very important not to use it during flowering periods, in order not to risk inadvertently eliminating the bees as well.

Garlic, macerated or decoctioned, is a powerful insect repellent and antiparasitic effective not only against aphids. Similarly, nettle macerate is a particularly powerful biological solution to immediately eliminate parasites and keep them away from crops for a long time.

Marseille soap , diluted in water and abundantly sprayed on the plants, is a valid ally in the fight against aphids, as well as a good remedy for eliminating the honeydew that insects deposit on the leaves.

Finally, Neem oil , a natural and totally non-toxic insecticide. Its particularly pungent smell acts as an excellent repellent on aphids and more. Just dilute a few drops in water and spray the solution on the ground or directly on the infested parts of the plant.

What is the best aphid killer spray?

The best aphids killer spray would be an organic product , free of toxic chemical components, which does not alter the organoleptic qualities of the plant on which it is used.

However, it is not always possible to effectively combat aphids with natural remedies. Especially if the attack is considerable, sometimes the only remedy is chemical.

On the market there are different types of insecticide for plant lice based on various sufficiently effective active ingredients. Among the most common products to eliminate aphids are:

Deltamethrin : insecticide with a wide range of action, it usually acts by contact on both young and adult plants;
Acetamiprid : systemic insecticide for aphids not to be used in the flowering phase because they are harmful to bees;
Lambda-cyhalothrin : an active principle with a broad spectrum of action which acts by contact and by ingestion. This is also harmful to bees.

Alongside these insecticide-type products against aphids, organic farming makes extensive use of less conventional but equally valid systems: natural potassium soap for aphids , pine and nettle oil such as Kanaplant Difesa 1 or azadirachtin , a component extracted from neem oil .

Visit the category of our online shop entirely dedicated to natural insecticides and repellents for the fight against aphids and any other plant parasite.

Choose the ready-to-use product that best suits the needs of your cultivation. And make your online purchase in complete safety directly on Grow Shop Italia.