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Aphids
PestLow impact
Small sap-sucking insects that colonise soft new growth, leaf undersides, and growing tips. Most species reproduce rapidly and colonies can establish quickly in spring and early summer. Also vectors of several plant viruses.
Key facts
- Type
- Pest
- Affects
- Tomato · Bean · Basil · Cucumber · Lettuce · Kale · Carrot · Beetroot · Courgette · Strawberry · Spring-onion · Garlic · Pepper · Aubergine · Cabbage · Broccoli · Cauliflower · Brussels-sprouts
- Active season
- Apr - Sep
- Peak season
- May - Jul
- Vulnerable stages
- Growing · Harvesting
- Spread rate
- fast
- If confirmed
- Act soon
Signs & symptoms
- -dense clusters of small pale, green, or black insects on shoot tips and leaf undersides
- -curled, puckered, or distorted new leaves where colonies are feeding
- -sticky honeydew coating on leaves below the colony
- -sooty black mould growing on honeydew deposits
- -ants farming colonies on stems - a reliable indicator of aphid presence
Management
Do now
- -Pinch out and bin heavily infested growing tips
- -Squash colonies by hand on stems where accessible
- -Spray affected areas with a strong jet of water to dislodge insects
- -Encourage natural predators - avoid broad-spectrum insecticides
Prevention
- -Encourage ladybirds, lacewings, and hoverflies with companion planting
- -Avoid excessive nitrogen feeding, which promotes the soft lush growth that pests favour
- -Inspect undersides of leaves regularly from mid-spring onwards