It’s no surprise as they are a contender for causing the most damage in gardens. Aphids belong to the order Homoptera and there are over 4000 known species. That is a lot to contend with for arborists who can claim the title of a seasoned specialist when they have dealt with this pest.
Aphid Issues
If you have a greenhouse, expect to deal with aphids at some point. They love the stage of growth that follows cotyledons. Aphids typically do not attack these first leaves. preferring to instead wait for further growth. Once aphids settle at the banquet, they have a veritable feast as the plant continues to grow.
Your aphid problem began well before spring. During the winter, winged adults take shelter in the bark of trees on your landscape. The infestation will typically start in early spring due to natural aphid migration patterns. However, your greenhouse is also at risk from un-scouted plants. If you plan on purchasing plants, scouting them for aphids is always the best practice.
Ferocious Growth
You are dealing with a pest that can reproduce without mating. Aphids also give birth to living young that don’t have wings. An immature aphid is always female and is born carrying a further army of aphids that will add to the infestation’s numbers. Basically, aphids can multiply much faster than other pests which means you have to act quickly to save your plants.
Aphids will not only spread quickly but they will cause significant damage in a very short time. Your plants may weather the storm. However, aphids can cause malformation of the leave and stem of plants. There is also the risk of plant diseases that could kill your crop. When aphids leave excrement after growing in numbers, it can attract other pests such as ants. The larger the infestation, the harder it is to get rid of aphids.
Winged Aphids
Winged aphids are your primary concern. This is where the aphid colony begins, and it is the best time to act. Once wingless aphids take a hold in your greenhouse, the infestation is in full swing and the clock is ticking. If you do see winged aphids when the population is obviously already large, you have even bigger problems. This phenomenon occurs when the colony has outgrown the plant population in your greenhouse. The winged aphid’s only purpose is to spread to nearby growth and start another colony.
The bottom line is, aphids are extremely bad for any greenhouse or garden. It is important to scout plants regularly to catch any signs of an aphid infestation. You may see cast skins or ant activity in your greenhouse in the early stage of an infestation. Proper scouting will help you detect and identify the actual pest in time to take effective action.
Scouting for Aphids
Your job as the aphid scout is to regularly inspect plants for signs of pest invasion. In most cases, aphid species are green. However, there are species which are much easier to pick out in a garden or greenhouse due to their colorful appearance. The first place to look for aphids is on and around growing tips and flower buds.
Aphids are a colorful pest so you may see species that are yellow, green, red, gray, blue, or black. Although most aphid species have horn-like structures at the back-end of their abdomens, not all species are the same in appearance. Another prominent feature of aphids is their antennae which sweep back and are tucked along the side of the body. If you are in doubt, Front Range Arborists can carry out an expert inspection to help you detect the early signs of an aphid infestation.
Aphid Treatment
You can purchase biological pest control agents to deal with aphids. If you take this route, look for products that are specifically designed to prevent or get rid of aphids. The issue with using some chemicals to destroy an aphid infestation is that these pests known to develop resistance to the chemicals.
It is therefore important that you continue scouting for aphids throughout the season. Front Range Arborists can provide effective maintenance services to combat aphids and other pests. If the health of your plants is important to you, taking appropriate measures to prevent or destroy an aphid infestation through regular scouting is a must.
At Front Range Arborists, our specialists understand the propagation of aphids and can head off an infestation before the pest establishes a large colony. For plant health assurances all year round, you can rely on Front Range Arborists in Colorado.
For an expert inspection that is efficient and affordable at your home or business premises, reach out to the experts at Front Range Arborists. We provide excellence in advice and services to Colorado home and business owners.
