Aphid Control in Roswell

How to Recognize Aphids on Landscape Plants

Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that may be green, yellow, black, or another color, depending on the species. Some have wings, but many form wingless clusters beneath leaves, around buds, and along tender stems.

These insects leave behind honeydew, a sticky waste that can coat plant surfaces and objects below an infestation. Sooty mold, a dark fungus that grows on honeydew, may then develop across the leaves and make the activity more noticeable.

Signs worth documenting before requesting aphid treatment include:

• Visible insects: Groups of small insects on new growth, stems, buds, or leaf undersides.
• Distorted growth: Leaves that appear curled, puckered, yellowed, or stunted.
• Sticky surfaces: Shiny honeydew on leaves, outdoor furniture, vehicles, or pavement beneath a plant.
• Dark residue: Black sooty mold on leaves or other honeydew-coated surfaces.
• Increasing damage: Wilting or declining growth accompanied by active insect clusters.

What Effective Aphid Control Involves

A thorough plant inspection includes leaf undersides, stems, buds, new growth, visible honeydew, and signs of beneficial insects. Lady beetles, lacewings, and other natural predators may already be feeding on aphids, so control decisions should account for these non-target insects as well as the size of the infestation.

When appropriate for the plant and surrounding conditions, light populations can sometimes be reduced by washing aphids from sturdy plants with a strong stream of water. Avoiding excessive high-nitrogen fertilizer may also help because it can encourage the tender, succulent growth aphids prefer.

Heavier or persistent populations may require an insecticide chosen for the plant and site. Product labels, plant condition, nearby activity, and potential effects on beneficial insects all matter. Applying a product before identifying the problem could harm the plant or disrupt insects that naturally suppress aphids.