Aphids in your garden? Here is what to know

Aphids are small, soft-bodied, slow moving insects with piercing mouthparts that suck the sap out of plants.  

There are about 5000 different species. They are only about ¼ inch in size and can be any of a variety of colors, pink, black, green, brown or red.  

Sometimes you find them in the company of ants, who farm them for the honeydew they excrete. The ants also protect them from predators. 

An amazing fact about aphids is that they are born pregnant. Therefore, they reproduce quickly. 

The first signs of an aphid problem might be yellowing, curling leaves. Aphids can also transmit viruses and allow sooty mold to take hold. When the population becomes too large, an aphid might grow wings and fly away to find a fresh host plant.  

For good aphid control, find them before they can build up large populations. Insecticidal soaps sometimes help as do horticultural oils. Repeated coverage is necessary because one surviving aphid can start the cycle all over again. Pay attention to directions. 

Attract aphids’ natural predators with mint, fennel, dill, yarrow and dandelions. These predators include ladybugs, parasitoid wasps, and lacewing larvae.  

Aphids are repelled by strongly aromatic plants such as lavender, marigolds, garlic and mint. Plant these among your more vulnerable plants. 

Using trap plants is a different approach. Plant them away from your veggies and flowers. Trap plants attract aphids to them. These sacrificial trap plants include nasturtiums, nicotiana and sunflowers.  

If you direct a strong water stream on the infested plant, it will knock them off and disrupt their feeding cycle. Hand picking and squishing aphids is another means of control. The biggest takeaway from all this is that you need to act early and repeatedly. 

Cornell Cooperative Extension Oneida County answers home and garden questions which can be emailed tohomeandgarden@cornell.edu or call 315-736-3394, press 1 and ext. 333.   Leave your question, name and phone number.  Questions are answered weekdays, 8am to 4pm. Also, visit our website athttp://cceoneida.com/ or phone 315-736-3394, press 1 and then ext.100.