Aphids-The Small Enemy of Gardening and Horticulture
Author: Agri4b
Gardeners and horticulturalists would probably agree that gardening is as much about destruction as it is nurture. In the case of aphids, which plague many gardens and plants, to destroy can seem like the only option where prevention hasn’t worked.
There are numerous classes of aphid; however, nearly all of them react to similar control measures and treatments. Chemical-based sprays are very effective and widely available but the drawback is their negative effect on insects that are harmless. In addition, it’s not a good idea to spray chemical aphid repellents on edible crops because of the risk of the resultant food produce being contaminated. An organic means that is used in gardening and horticulture is to support other insects for which aphids are a food source. Investigations have revealed that the planting of certain plants adjacent to the aphid’s prey plant can significantly lower the level of infestation.
Most commonly used repellent plants in gardening and horticulture are:
Tagetes – or African Marigold
Calendula- Marigold
Morning Glory -family Convolvulaceae
Known enemies of the aphid are:
Hoverflies
Ladybirds
Lacewings
Birds
Of course in order to attract aphid-eating creatures the gardener or horticulturalist needs to maintain an aphid population. Planting nettles can solve this dilemma. Nettles are notorious for attracting aphids and they will in turn keep hoverflies, ladybirds, etc coming to the site.
How Idaho’s Entomologists have lent a hand to gardening and horticulture
In 2008 The University of Idaho launched an original aphid-monitoring network. Run by entomologists, the system is designed to help pea and lentil growers judge when it is the right time to be pro-active in fighting infestation. The scheme may well serve to help gardeners, horticulturists and crop growers in other areas control aphid problems. Notably the state of Virginia has for years struggled with soybean aphids that have destroyed large yields of the bean.
Aphids multiply rapidly and cause vast amounts of damage to planting and crops the world over. The devastating effects of aphid infestation on plants can mean loss of livelihood for some, where for others it simply means a rose bush that didn’t live up to expectations. As with all areas of gardening and horticulture, the needs to fight nature and to chime in with nature are in constant opposition.
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