What is aphid? Methods of struggle

One of the most malicious and dangerous pests of the garden is aphids. This insect in all its varieties easily occupied the green plantations: from garden crops and flowers to fruit trees, which cause great damage.

What is aphid? How to deal with the armies of such a large insect? What methods of problem elimination are most effective?

What is aphid?

Outwardly, these are small insects of black or green color, one to five millimeters in size, with an ovoid-shaped body, soft and easily crushed, thin legs, an elongated oral apparatus thickened from the front. Inhabits aphids on fruit trees, the underside of leaves, stems, tips of shoots, it mercilessly sucks the juice of plants with its proboscis. Along the way, the insect secretes a poison that causes twisting, deforming, dying leaves, stopping the growth of shoots, curving the tops. In addition, sweet masses contaminate the leaf surface, thereby violating the normal life of plants and causing their death.

The created conditions of increased sugar content are the optimal environment for the development of black sooty dew - a dangerous viral disease that prevents the process of photosynthesis and depressing the already weakened plants. The greatest harm insects inflict on seedlings of fruit trees.

What is aphids and why does it multiply so fast? A wingless female of aphids needs only one fertilization, and then every two weeks during six months to give out a large number of offspring (which is about fifty generations during the summer season).

How to detect the presence of aphids on the site

To determine what a aphid is, and to recognize its appearance is simple enough:

• Colonies of such an insect are visible to the naked eye - they are located on the shoots of the plant, from the underside of the leaves;
• The affected parts of plants are covered with a fallow-sticky liquid secreted by aphids;
• Leaves of the plant are twisted, withered, buds of flowers do not open, fruits stop in their development.

Troubleshooting

Fighting such a pest is extremely difficult, because insects reproduce very quickly, creating numerous colonies. The aphids can be removed by hand, washed off from the hose with a powerful water jet. In the neighborhood with garden crops susceptible to attacks of aphids, it is recommended to plant onions, chamomile Dalmatian, garlic, repelling this pest.

Of natural natural predators, aphids are eaten by ladybirds, some species of wasps, flies, murmurs, lacewings and small birds. To attract such rescuers, it is recommended to plant fragrant herbs, ciderates and nettles on the site. Complete destruction of bird pest colonies and insects may not provide, but their help will not be superfluous.

Folk methods

Effective remedy for aphids - decoctions and infusions on a plant basis. Non-chemicals, however, in a strong concentration, they can cause burns to the plant, and in addition to aphids carry a danger to other types of insects. Therefore, it is recommended to apply them carefully, having previously tested the effect on a limited area of the earth. Control of aphids on fruit trees with plant solutions is recommended during budding, at the end of flowering and before harvesting, no later than 2-4 weeks.

Garlic infusion

To make it through the press, you need to skip five cloves of garlic, which you need to insist in half a liter of water for 4-5 days, then combine with 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil and a teaspoon of liquid soap. The resulting preparation should be sprayed with affected plant aphids.

Chamomile infusion

100 grams of dried chamomile inflorescences and leaves to insist in 1 liter of water for 12 hours. Spraying is done in a ratio of 1: 3 with the addition of 4 grams of soap per liter of infusion.

Dandelion infusion

200 grams of roots and 400 grams of dandelion leaves (during the flowering period) insist in a bucket of water for about 4 hours.

Tobacco infusion

In 5 liters of water should be insisted 200 grams of dried and shredded tobacco leaves for 2 days. To bring the volume of the drug to 10 liters, drain it.

Coniferous Infusion

1 kg of pine needles to withstand a day in 4 liters of water.

Potato infusion

1 kg of potato tops to grind, insist for 3 hours in a 10-liter bucket of water.

Soap and tops of tomatoes against aphids

A common remedy for aphids is vegetable oil and soap, the viscous consistency of which, in combination with the enveloping properties of the oil, hinders the respiratory process of the insect. Plants should be sprayed in the evening hours every few days.

Quite effective is the infusion of crushed tomato leaves (2 cups), which is recommended to soak overnight in water (2 cups). The resulting infusion should be filtered, poured into a container from which to spray an unwanted guest.