Arborjet > Insects And Mites > Aphids

Aphids

Aphids are soft, pear-shaped insects that have long legs and antennae with tube-like structures called “cornicles” that protrude out of the hind end of the body.

This family of insects contains most plant virus vectors (around 200 known) such as the green peach aphid. They can appear in a range of colors including green, yellow, brown, red, or black. Their color will depend on the plants that they are currently feeding on but the most commonly recognized aphids are green or black. Some aphids secrete a waxy or woolly substance on their bodies that can make them easy to identify. Most aphid populations are particularly high in the spring and fall seasons.

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  • Common Symptoms

    • Low to moderate numbers of leaf-feeding aphids are not usually damaging in gardens or on trees; however, large populations can turn leaves yellow and stunt shoots. Aphids can also produce large quantities of a sticky substance called honeydew, which turns black from opportunistic growth of a sooty mold fungus. Some aphid species inject a toxin into plants, which causes leaves to distort and inhibit their growth.

    Treatments

    • Aphids are easily managed with either IMA-jet or ACE-jet. IMA-jet will provide season-long control. In the case of chemical-sensitive areas, the use of Eco-1 and AzaSol will provide suppression on a two-week application schedule.

    When To Treat

    • An IMA-jet treatment early in the lifecycle of aphids is very effective and provides season-long control. Later season infestations or higher populations that require rapid control respond well to ACE-jet unless growing conditions extend more than 60 days, in which case a combination of ACE-jet followed by a low- medium rate of IMA-jet will provide good control.

      Severe drought or inadequate irrigation coverage may slow down the translocation into foliage so tree owners should be advised to provide the necessary water prior to treatment. The addition of a soil surfactant such as NutriRoot as a drench or sub-surface soil injection will encourage water to move deeper into the soil and increase moisture availability over time. If a rapid response is more desirable, the use of ACE-jet will move more quickly into the foliage but does not have the residual of IMA-jet.

    What To Expect After Treatment References And Photo Credits

    • Main photo taken by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Slide Set, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Bugwood.org
      White pine aphid taken by William H. Hoffard, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
      Leafcurl ash aphid taken by Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
      Giant conifer aphid taken by Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org

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