Preventive Control
Natural enemies
Parasitoids
- Braconid
Predators
- Aphid midge
- Damsel bug
- Ground beetle
- Hoverfly
- Lacewing
- Ladybird beetle
- Rove beetle
- Spider
Monitoring
To monitor aphid populations, examine the undersides of the leaves and the bud areas for groups or colonies of aphids. Prompt control is necessary as aphids can multiply rapidly.
Management and cultural practices
- Grow different crops or grow crops in rotation every cropping season. This practice provides
food, shelter, and it increases the number of natural enemies that prey on aphids. At the same time, it disrupts the aphids' lifecycle and maintains its population below the economic threshold level
- When transplanting, use aphid-free seedlings only, because often they are the source of infestation. Typically aphid populations introduced through transplanting are not evenly distributed in the field but rather form clusters of infestation.
- Plant trap crops such as lupine, dill, nasturtiums, and timothy grass near the crop to be protected (The Bug Lady, 2004). Anise, chives, garlic, onions, and radish are also good companion crops (Ghorganics, 2004).
- Control and kill ants. Plow and flood the field. This will destroy ant
colonies and expose eggs and larvae to predators and sunlight. Ants use the aphids to gain access to nutrients from the plants.
- Avoid using heavy doses of highly soluble nitrogen fertilizers. Aphids love tender, juicy leaves. Instead apply fertilizer into 3 phases: during seeding, vegetative, and reproductive stages of plant growth.