Aphids

EN010

Aphids: Family Aphididae

Kimberly Stoner
Department of Entomology
Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
123 Huntington Street
P.O. Box 1106
New Haven, CT 06504-1106

Telephone: (203) 974-8480 Fax: (203) 974-8502
E-mail: Kimberly.Stoner@ct.gov
Where and When to Look

Aphids may be found on plants at any time, but there are some situations in which aphids are more likely to thrive and multiply. They multiply rapidly in enclosed areas, such as in greenhouses, in cold frames, under row covers, and on houseplants, where they are protected from their natural enemies and variations in weather. Many species are resistant to insecticides, and their populations explode when insecticides have killed off their natural enemies without harming the aphids. Aphids are also very sensitive to the physiology of their host plant. They may multiply rapidly when the host plant has been fertilized heavily with nitrogen, when growth hormones (or pesticides that act like growth hormones) have been used, or when the plant is beginning to senesce.

Different species of aphids have different habits, but large colonies of many species are typically found on the underside of leaves or on stems. Some aphids, such as the cabbage aphid, inject chemicals into the plant that change the way the plant grows. Cabbage aphids cause leaves to twist and curl, and thus large colonies are usually found on or under twisted leaves. Aphids produce a sticky substance called honeydew, on which fungi often grow, causing a "sooty mold." So patches of sticky material or dark, moldy areas may indicate the presence of aphids.

The movement of aphids into fields can be monitored with yellow sticky traps or yellow pan traps. Movement of winged aphids is especially important for those species that carry plant viruses or other plant diseases.

Description

Aphids are small (typically 1/10 inch or less), soft-bodied insects that feed from sucking plant juices. They are pear-shaped , with long antennae (often as long as the entire body), and usually with cornicles ("tailpipes") on the abdomen. They vary in color, and may be green, pink, white, gray, yellow, brown, or black. Even within a species, they often vary in appearance. Some species of aphids have several different color forms. Some individuals of a single species have wings, while other adults of the same species do not. Aphids are often found in large colonies on the underside of leaves or on stems.

Control Methods

Natural: There are many naturally occurring enemies of aphids. There are predators, such as ladybeetle adults and larvae, lacewing adults and larvae, syrphid fly larvae, and minute pirate bugs. There are also many parasitoids that specialize in attacking aphids, such as tiny aphidiid wasps. The adult female wasp lays an egg inside and aphid, and the developing wasp larva kills the aphid, leaving an aphid "mummy" behind. The best way to take advantage of these natural enemies is to avoid using insecticides as much as possible and let local predators and parasitoids move in on their own. In enclosed spaces such as greenhouses, where these natural enemies may not naturally occur, some growers have successfully used commercially available natural enemies, such as ladybeetles, lacewings, and aphid midges for control.

There are also non-toxic or low toxicity sprays which can be used against aphids. One simple method is to spray a hard stream of water to wash the plants. (Be careful not to use so much pressure that it will injure delicate plant parts). Insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils also control aphids. Be careful to test these first on a small area of the plant, because they may injure or discolor leaves.

Fungi that attack aphids are also becoming commercially available. The control achieved with these insect pathogens may be dependent on environmental conditions (humidity or moisture and temperature).

Chemical: As mentioned above, many aphids are resistant to chemical insecticides, and using insecticides often causes aphid outbreaks. Some aphid species can be controlled with azadirachtin (neem) and some with malathion. Whenever pesticides are used, follow the cautions and instructions on the label.

Summary

Aphids are most likely to be a serious problem in situations where they are protected from their natural enemies: either in an enclosed area like a greenhouse, or when their natural enemies have been destroyed by insecticides. They also thrive when the nitrogen in the plant sap is high. They may damage plants by removing sap, by injecting chemicals into the plant that change the growth pattern, by dropping honeydew that causes unsightly mold to grow on the plant, or by carrying plant diseases. They are often controlled by naturally occurring natural enemies. Additional control can be achieved by using commercially available biological controls or by spraying with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil.