"Aphids, also known as plant lice (and in Britain as greenflies),[1] are small sap sucking insects, and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea.[2] Aphids are among the most destructive insect pests on cultivated plants in temperate regions.[3]"
- Wikipedia
And yuck!They are disgusting. When you find them, you usually don't find just one, you find a creepy crawly infestation.
You may see the holes the aphids chew threw your leaves before you see the bugs, especially if they camouflage like the type shown above.
What is the best way to fight aphids?
Fight these garden pests with their natural predators - Ladybugs!
We have live ladybugs available now!
Wait until dusk, spray the infested plant or plants with water, and then shake the live lady bugs out of the container on to the plant. If you release the ladybugs during the heat of the day, they will just fly away. By giving them water, they will stay put through the night and search and destroy aphids like ladybug special forces.
Ladybugs also eat fruit flies, thrips and other garden pests.
If you purchase and release lady bugs to eat your aphids, DON"T use chemical insecticides such as Seven, or you will kill off your beneficial insects as well. It is much more effective to introduce natural predators, than to use the chemical alternative.
For more repulsive images of different types of aphids visit this site.
What's Buggin' You? Organic Pest Control Part 1
What's Buggin' You? Organic Pest Control Part 2
What's Buggin' You? Organic Pest Control Part 3
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