One of the most malicious and dangerous pests in the garden is considered to be aphids. This insect in all its varieties easily occupied green spaces: from garden crops and flowers to fruit trees, which inflict huge damage.
What is aphid? How to deal with the armies of such a large insect? What are the most effective troubleshooting methods?
What is aphid?
Outwardly, these are small insects of black or green color, ranging in size from one to five millimeters, with an egg-shaped body, soft and easily crushed, thin legs, an elongated mouth apparatus, thickened in front. Aphid lives on fruit trees, the underside of leaves, stems, tops of shoots, it mercilessly sucks the juice of plants with its proboscis. Along the way, the insect secretes poison, causing twisting, deformation, death of leaves, stunting of shoots, curvature of the tops. In addition, sweet masses pollute the leaf surface, thereby violating the normal vital activity of plants and causing their death.
The created conditions of increased sugar content are the optimal environment for the development of black soot dew - a dangerous viral disease that impedes the process of photosynthesis and inhibits the already weakened plants. Insects inflict the greatest harm to seedlings of fruit trees.
What is aphid and why does it breed so quickly? To a wingless female aphid, one fertilization is enough to then produce numerous offspring every six weeks for six months (which is about fifty generations during the summer season).
How to detect the presence of aphids in the area
To determine what aphids are and to recognize its appearance is quite simple:
- colonies of such an insect are visible to the naked eye - they are located on the shoots of the plant, on the underside of the leaves;
- the affected parts of the plants are covered with a pad - a sticky liquid secreted by aphids;
- the leaves of the plant are twisted, dry, flower buds do not open, the fruits stop in their development.
Troubleshooting
Fighting such a pest is extremely difficult, because insects breed very quickly, creating numerous colonies. Aphids can be removed by hand, flushed out of the hose with a powerful water stream. In the vicinity of garden crops susceptible to aphid attacks, it is recommended to plant onions, Dalmatian chamomile, and garlic that repel this pest.
Of the natural predators, aphids are eaten by ladybugs, some species of wasps, female flies, lacewings and small birds. To attract such rescuers, it is recommended to plant fragrant herbs, green manure and nettles on the site. Complete destruction of the pest colonies and insects may not provide, but their help will not be superfluous.
Folk methods
An effective remedy for aphids is decoctions and infusions on a plant basis. Non-chemicals, however, in strong concentrations, they can cause burns to the plant, and besides aphids, they are dangerous to other types of insects. Therefore, it is recommended to use them carefully, having previously tested the action on a limited plot of land. Fighting aphids on fruit trees with plant solutions is recommended during budding, after flowering and before harvesting, no later than 2-4 weeks.
Garlic infusion
To cook it through a press, you need to skip five cloves of garlic, which you need to insist for 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 on the aphids affected plants.
Chamomile infusion
100 grams of dried chamomile inflorescences and leaves insist in 1 liter of water for 12 hours. Spraying is carried out in a ratio of 1: 3 with the addition of 4 grams of soap for each liter of infusion.
Dandelion infusion
200 grams of roots and 400 grams of dandelion leaves (during its flowering) insist in a bucket of water for about 4 hours.
Tobacco infusion
In 5 liters of water, 200 grams of dried and crushed tobacco leaves should be insisted for 2 days. Bring the volume of the drug to 10 liters, drain.
Coniferous infusion
Withstand 1 kg of pine needles for 24 hours in 4 liters of water.
Potato infusion
Chop 1 kg of potato tops, 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 interfere with the respiratory process of the insect. Plants should be sprayed in the evening hours every few days.
An infusion of chopped tomato leaves (2 glasses), which is recommended to soak overnight in water (2 glasses), is considered quite effective. The resulting infusion needs to be filtered, poured into a container from which to spray the unwanted guest.