How to identify and protect your garden from an Aphid attack

14.04.18 11:49 AM Comment(s) By Admin

One common problem that every gardener faces at some point in time is that of dealing with pests. However, if we understand the association between pests and plants, it becomes possible to take some protective and remedial measures to fend a pest attack.

In today’s article, we will get ourselves acquainted with one such common pest found in the typical gardens having gourds and flowering plants - An Aphid.

Aphis Gossypii (aka Aphids) are small-bodied insects which belong to the family Aphidoidea and the order Hemiptera. Commonly known as plant louse, greenfly, and blackfly, they also exist in pink and brown.

About 5,000 species of aphids have been identified, and around 400 of these impact food and fodder crops. A majority of aphid species are flightless (wingless), but some species possess wings. These species prominently attack crop families like Cucurbitaceae (pumpkin, zucchini, watermelon, gourds, etc.), Malvaceae (okra, cotton, durian, many flowering plants), and Solanaceae (potato, eggplant, tomato, many medicinal and flowering plants) annoying the gardeners.

How do aphids harm plants?

Aphids attach themselves to the lower side of the leaves to avoid detection. They have a very short lifespan. It takes eight days for an aphid to reach its adulthood. It can multiply fast and can produce multiple generations in a year. There are three ways in which Aphid harm the plants:

They suck the sap from the plants and make the plants weak.
They act as the vectors for viral diseases transmissions.
They secrete honeydew on plants which causes sooty mould. This mouldy growth indirectly reduces the rate of photosynthesis by shading the plant surface.

One of the first signs of aphid infestation in your garden is a sighting of a multitude of ants on the plants. Ants and aphids share a symbiotic relationship.

Symbiosis at its best

When Aphids feed on the phloem tissue of the plant, they secrete honeydew which is a sugar-rich sticky liquid forced out of the anus.

This honeydew is food much preferred by ants. Aphids produce sugary food for ants, and in turn, ants protect them from the predatory insects.

Symptoms of damage/Signs to watch out for

Stunted growth
Wilting or dieback of shoots
Damage to/Destruction of new flush growth.
Curling of tender shoots

How to protect against aphids?

Preventive Measures

One should actively start watching out for Aphid infestation 4-5 weeks post sowing the seeds. Following techniques can work as preventive measures:

The simplest and the easiest – growing aphid-resistant varieties.
Remove weed plants, which acts as a host plant for an increase in aphid population.
Place aluminium foil around the base of the plant. The foil will reflect sunlight on to the underside of the leaves, which will fend off aphids.
Apply oil or any other sticky substance around the tree trunk to prevent ant movement.

Remedial Measures

Depending upon the extent of the infestation, some of the following may help:

Spraying the underside of leaves with a mild soap spray or neem oil.
Introduce natural enemies (predators like wasp and ladybug) of aphids to your garden.
Chemical management/spraying of insecticide (can be used for flowering plants but not preferred for food-bearing plants).
If nothing else works, the last option is to collect and destroy severely affected plants to save other plants.

Happy Growing!