Aphids
DE: Blattläuse
FR: pucerons
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Relevant Data About Aphids
A first generation of aphids appears normally in the late spring (approx. at the beginning of June in Europe). After a successful treatment, a second generation might appear at the midth of the summer (approx. at the end of July / beginning of August in Europe).
Harm Caused by Aphids
Symptoms vary according to the species of aphids. Most of the time, brown or purple stains appear on the leaves and fruits. Aphids secrete a sweet and sticky substance, "honeydew", which is a growing ground for fungi and attract ants. An aphid infestation make plants more sensitive to other sicknesses.
Learn to recognise the different aphids for a better control:
| Species | Image | Symptoms associated with this species |
|---|---|---|
| Bean aphid
(Aphis fabae) |
(Not yet available) | Produce large quantities of honeydew making dark brown and sticky stains on leaves, attract ants in masses, Sooty mold grows rapidly. |
| Rosy apple aphid
(Dysaphis plantaginea) |
|
The leaves are strongly rolled up, the leaves and fruits show purple stains, Sooty mold grows rapidly. |
| Green peach aphid
(Myzus persicae) |
|
Water stress, productivity loss, blemished leaves. Green peach aphid can transmit viruses. |
Biological Control
Proper fertilizing
Fertilize the earth of your plants with a potash-rich fertilizer in the early spring: potash strengthens the cell walls of the plants and makes them thereby more resistant to parasites.
Self-Made Recipes
- Nettle (Urtica) Manure, alternatively for balconies: nettle tea. For garden, use rather manure than tea, since the preparation of tea would cost too much energy for the needs of a garden.
- Spray Wormwood tea on the affected leaves.
Mixed Cultures
Predators
- Hoverfly, see also The Insect-Friendly Garden
- Ladybird, see also The Insect-Friendly Garden
- Lacewing, see also The Insect-Friendly Garden
- Earwig, see also The Insect-Friendly Garden
- Greenfinch, see also The Bird-Friendly Garden
Why they yet should not be eradicated
Aphids are a link within an ecological chain. They are food to popular animals like ladybird you would not like seeing disappearing from the planet.
Bees use the honeydew secreted by aphids as supplement or replacement to nectar to make honey. Honey made of mainly honeydew is considered as a delicacy. Fir honey is for example a honey that is essentially made out of honeydew.
To the Pests List
