Aphids, aphids everywhere!
Aphids are one of the strangest of all insect pests. There are thousands of different species of aphids and they come in many different colors. The common thread that binds aphids, outside of scientific classification based on biology (we will get to that in a minute) is that they are all considered pests.
Where are aphids found?
Aphids are found everywhere that plants are, and that includes both inside and outside of your home. Of course, the warmer the climate, the bigger the problem aphids can be. In areas which produce a lot of different plant products for human consumption aphids are a particular problem, as they can destroy thousands of dollars worth of crops.
One of the weird things about aphids as a group is that while some of them will feed on a variety of different plants, many of them prefer only one type of plant to eat from. If you are lucky enough to have a problem with a singular crop aphid species, the least toxic solution is simple; wait a year before planting that foliage again!
Many times, though, aphids will jump from plant to plant feeding away until the plant eventually dies. Aphids kill a plant by burrowing into it and eating the sap from the phloem. Too many punctures mean not enough sap, and the plant dies. Aphids can also kill a plant through the transmission of different types of viruses.
Aphids and other insects
Usually one of the first suggestions we make when it comes to the least toxic approach is to use some of the pest’s natural predators against it. It turns out, though, that one of the insect world’s most voracious predators most of the time is actually an aphid lover.
Certain species of ant love to eat the honeydew that aphids produce, and as a result will actually cultivate populations of aphids and then eat the food they produce. Not only will ants herd aphids onto new food sources, they will also aggressively protect aphids from their natural predators!
Those natural predators include lacewings and their young, ladybugs and their young, and aphid midges. All of these insects eat both aphids and their eggs, provided the aphids aren’t protected by ants!
Other means of control
Of course by nature prey species will always outnumber predators, so natural enemies alone might not get large numbers of aphid populations under control. We do suggest giving them time first though, as some of these other least toxic approaches could also mean the death of beneficial insects.
Plants that are infested with aphids in your garden can be sprayed using either just water, or a lime and water solution. Lime dust may also help to get rid of aphids. The working theory behind spraying straight water onto aphid infested plants is that one aphids are disturbed, they may not return. Hopefully the water also washed away any eggs!
The best means of ridding yourself of aphids is a combination of hand picking and predatory insects. As usual, local pest control companies are probably familiar with the least toxic methods of dealing with these little pests and can help to find the best solution for you.