Aphids Are One Of The Most Destructive plant-Eating Insects -- Here Is How To Get Rid Of Them

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Aphids are also commonly known as plant lice and they usually have soft, green bodies, although some types of the garden pest may appear brown or black.

This garden pest generally thrive in more temperate climates, although they are known to be present in most climates around the world wherever ornamental or useful plants thrive.

Aphids are approximately the size of a grain of rice – usually one or two millimeters long – and they tend to appear as the weather begins to warm. They are able to reproduce incredibly fast, developing colonies in the thousands in a very short time.

Another sign of infestation is the presence of ants. They feed on sap and then excrete a very sugary substance much like honeydew. This excretion attracts and feeds ants that love the sweet honeydew.

Ants also offer the colony a level of protection from other predators so they can continue to thrive. It may be possible to stop the spread of aphid colonies to other plants by controlling the ant populations.

A plant that has been infested with this garden pest will have leaves that are crimped or curled up. This is due to the nutrient levels being depleted while the leaves and buds were still in sprout stage.

An attack on a plant may result in stunted, deformed, or twisted foliage. In major infestations trees and shrubs may lose foliage and appear sparse or spindly even in prime growing seasons, buds may stop forming and some plants may not flower at all.

Getting Rid of the garden pest

There are many sprays and chemical concoctions available from garden stores or nurseries designed to kill the insect and stop the colony from re-growing.

Many of these sprays are full of chemicals, so while they may control your infestation, they may also damage your plants further and negatively affect other beneficial insect-life in your garden.

If you give in and use chemical sprays, then unfortunately many of the insect natural predators will also be affected and killed by the poisons and toxins present.

There are plenty of chemical-free ways to control aphid populations. Not only is it possible to get rid of your insect infestations, but chemical-free solutions are also better for your garden and better for the environment.

Chemical-Free Control

One of the easiest ways to get rid of this garden pest without using chemicals is to hose them off the leaves and buds. Spend a little time picking off any remaining adults and squashing them between your fingers manually.

When you squash the garden pest, they release a chemical that warns the others in the colony of danger. Many will begin to drop off the plant in self-defense.

Another excellent chemical-free control solution is soapy water. You can make your own soapy water solution by grating soap into water, but it’s easier to simply collect any soapy water from your next laundry cycle into a bucket or pail instead of letting it run down the drain. Pour this soapy solution over infested plants until the colony disappears.

If your plant is heavily infested, then it is possible to make a chemical-free garlic spray that is very effective. Chop some garlic bulbs and soak them in 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil overnight.

Add another 2 teaspoons of liquid detergent to your garlic and oil mix along with 2 cups of water. Stir well and strain mixture into a sealable jar.

When you’re ready to use it, dilute a teaspoon of mixture into 4 cups of water and put into a spray bottle. Spray your mix directly onto the plant incests visible on the leaves of any infested plants.

Try not to use this spray in very hot weather as it may burn the leaves and buds. This mixture is quite potent and should be refrigerated until needed. Always be sure to label your mix clearly as an insecticide.

Natural garden pest Control

The most environmentally friendly control solution is to encourage natural predators. Ladybirds and ladybird larvae will happily eat lots of plant incest. Hoverflies and lacewings will also help reduce your garden pest problem.

This insect tends to cluster on the under-side of leaves and foliage away from direct sunlight. You can deter them by placing a square of aluminum foil around the base of the plant so that sunlight is reflected up to the underside of leaves.

Another excellent all-natural solution is to improve the overall health of your garden’s plants. Being sure to feed, water and mulch your garden properly will promote healthier plants that are able to more easily fend off attacks by pests.