About 5,000 species of aphid have been described, all included in the family Aphididae. Around 400 of these are found on food and fiber crops , and many are serious pests of agriculture and forestry , as well as an annoyance for gardeners .

Nov 19, 2024 · Hosing down your plants is one way to control the aphid population in your garden. How to Prevent Aphids. For fruit or shade trees, spray dormant horticultural oil to kill overwintering aphid eggs. Beneficial insects, such as ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps, will feed on aphids. Attract these insects to your garden by providing an ...

Apr 11, 2025 · Aphid, (family Aphididae), any of a group of sap-sucking, soft-bodied insects (order Homoptera) that are about the size of a pinhead, most species of which have a pair of tubelike projections (cornicles) on the abdomen.

Signs of severe aphid feeding are twisted and curled leaves, yellowed leaves, stunted or dead shoots and poor plant growth. Treating aphids for the health of plants is usually unnecessary. Aphids can often be managed with only non-chemical options or low risk pesticides.

Nov 21, 2024 · Most aphid damage occurs at the tips of plants, since the insects prefer soft new growth, and signs of a heavy infestation can include any of the following.

Some, such as the cabbage aphid or wooly apple aphid, secrete a white or gray waxy substance that covers the body. Adult aphids may be winged or wingless. Two different species of aphids infesting roots.

Nov 16, 2023 · Aphids are also attacked by parasitic wasps, which lay eggs inside them. Parasitized aphids swell, change color, and are eventually killed by the developing wasp inside. These are referred to as "aphid mummies."

Jul 17, 2024 · If your plant looks sickly but it's getting enough water, it could be suffering from an aphid infestation. Read on to learn ways to identify and remove aphids or aphid eggs, such as spraying them away with water or insecticidal soap, so you can restore your plant's health.

Aphid Infestation Aphids are soft-bodied insects that use their piercing sucking mouthparts to feed on plant sap. They usually occur in colonies on the undersides of tender terminal growth.

Monitoring - Look for signs of aphid presence such as white cast skins on plant surfaces, honeydew, ant activity on plants, and winged adults on yellow sticky cards. Sanitation - Eliminate all weeds within and around the crops.