Curative Control
Plants in pest control
- Andrographis
- Chili
- Custard apple
- Eupatorium
- Finger euphorbia
- Ginger
- Gliricidia
- Mammey
- Neem
- Pongam
- Quassia
- Spanish needle
- Sweet flag
- Turmeric
- Tomato
- Yam bean
Other substances
- Flour spray
- Soap spray
Precaution: Soap spray, undiluted alcohol, solutions of water + alcohol, and ammonia spray may injure foliage. Test these sprays on few leaves before applying to the entire plant. It may take 2 days for damage symptoms to appear.
Physical control
- Water spray
Spray a steady stream of water on the host plant to knock-off aphids. Once on the ground, the fallen aphids are prey to ground predators and they have difficulty returning to the plant (Ellis;Bradley: p. 433).
- Water traps
Half-fill yellow pan or basin with soapy water. Place the pan close to
the plant but exposed enough so that aphids will see it. Trapped aphids sink and drown because soap breaks the surface tension of the water. The yellow color attracts the pests (Ellis;Bradley: p. 440). However, if more beneficial insects are trapped, stop using this, as beneficials might be sufficient enough to control the pests.
- Handpicking
- Pruning
- Sticky board traps
Aphids are attracted to yellow color.
To make your own sticky trap, spread petroleum jelly or used motor oil on yellow painted plywood, 6 cm x 15 cm in size and up. Place traps near the plants but far apart enough to avoid leaves sticking to the board (Thomas,
2002).