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Potato aphids
PestLow impact
Several aphid species colonise potato foliage, weakening plants and acting as vectors for potato viruses including potato leafroll virus and potato virus Y. Colonies tend to establish later in the season than bean blackfly.
Currently in peak season - extra vigilance worthwhile.
Key facts
- Type
- Pest
- Affects
- Potato
- Active season
- May - Sep
- Peak season
- Jun - Aug
- Vulnerable stages
- Growing
- Spread rate
- fast
- If confirmed
- Act soon
Signs & symptoms
- -clusters of pale green, pink, or black aphids on stems and leaf undersides
- -curled or puckered foliage near infested growing tips
- -sticky honeydew and sooty mould deposits below colonies
Management
Do now
- -Squash colonies by hand where accessible
- -Spray with a strong jet of water to dislodge insects
- -Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides which also kill natural predators
Prevention
- -Aphids are the primary vector of potato virus diseases - maintaining low aphid pressure protects the crop
- -Natural predators (ladybirds, lacewings, hoverfly larvae) provide significant control in open beds